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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To breast feed a friends baby if she was busy?

238 replies

narkymum · 27/08/2008 12:45

just read a piece about it in closer. There is a programe about it on 9th sept c4 10pm.

OP posts:
MayBloom · 28/08/2008 17:49

Big fat NO!

Something about the idea makes me cringe. It's such a personal thing, the idea of another woman feeding my baby makes me go eeewwwwww! I mean, lets be honest, it's juice being squeezed from another person!

Not only that but would it not confuse the child? It wouldn't smell/feel/taste the same as it's own mother surely?

Baffled as to why anybody would do this, each to their own though I suppose. Why couldn't the woman just express and have her friend feed the baby with that?

snarky · 28/08/2008 17:51

"juice being squeezed from another person"

You must be every psychiatrist's wet dream

thumbwitch · 28/08/2008 18:06

If you can fight your way throughthis paper, you will see that the constituents of every woman's breast milk varies according to many different things (lactation stage, age, parity, nutritional status, region etc.). It does not, however, claim that a woman's milk is only suitable for her baby.

It might not taste the same but it is doubtful that your own breastmilk tastes the same from one feed to the next, as it will take on flavours from the food you have eaten yourself.

There is a roughly 'standard' composition of all breast milk, the same as there is for all cow's milk.

In terms of micronutrients, another woman's milk may be better/worse than your own depending on dietary intake.

J2O · 28/08/2008 18:20

I'd be fine with it, either way.

Issy · 28/08/2008 18:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

Onestonetogo · 28/08/2008 18:55

Message withdrawn

teafortwo · 28/08/2008 18:59

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2008_35_tue.shtml

Have a listen to this!

wangle99 · 28/08/2008 19:13

Haven't read rest of postings... my friend fed my DD for me when she was about 8 months old. Think it was just one feed.

DD wasn't bothered!

MamaMaiasaura · 28/08/2008 21:52

I would feed friends baby if needed and would be happy for a friend to feed mine. Human milk much better than anything else for human babies imo.

sillybigsausage · 28/08/2008 23:03

yes of course...

Women have always used wet-nurses

I can't see what all the bloody fuss is about myself

Just another sensationalist TV prog about BF, trying to make out that BF women are wierd, no doubt...

Donkeyswife · 28/08/2008 23:16

I wouldn't think twice about it if the baby needed it and the mum was okay with it. Similarly if my little one needed feeding and i was unable to feed her, (if i was ill for example) i'd be really grateful if someone breastfed her. Of course there would have to be exceptional circumstances for it to be done on a regular basis.

Onestonetogo · 28/08/2008 23:36

Message withdrawn

Catzenobia · 29/08/2008 10:12

I'd be happy for my DD to be fed EBM, but really would not like another woman actually breastfeeding her. Nor would I want to breastfeed another woman's baby as it would feel as if I was betraying my DD in some way. This is just my gut reaction, no logic at all. Obviously in an emergency things would be different as the most important thing is that the baby is fed.

sillybigsausage · 29/08/2008 20:01

Hi Onestonetogo - I read that artile too - I thought it was going to promote BF but I just found the photo very sensationalist (although I guess it does make a very valid point anout feeding a baby milk frm anothr species) and the article was all about the woman presenter. Saying that, any programme which promotes BF is good IMO, but I guess I just sniff a sensationalist angle, which is a bit dassapointing although not surprising of course)

I will try and remember to watch it though

tigergirl · 29/08/2008 21:24

the question you should ask yourself is,
if you had a premie, that was stuggling to live and you couldn't bf.
would you let another woman bf your baby.

i bet every single mother would.

breast milk rules!!

expatinscotland · 29/08/2008 21:26

I have absolutely no problem with wet nurses.

Why on Earth not?

Been done for thousands of years.

Until recently, it is how all of Britain's royalty were fed.

And many others.

Pinions · 29/08/2008 21:30

In all honesty the thought of it turns my stomach.

babyinarms · 29/08/2008 21:33

I Definately would not, i would be afraid of infection HIV etc.....and i do think only a mother should nurse their own baby.

I would be horrified if a friend asked me to breast feed her baby or if she offered to breast feed my baby..its just not right.

verybigbird · 29/08/2008 21:44

My nan was breastfed by her aunt because her mum could not feed her (not sure why). At a time when formula was, firstly, expensive, and secondly, of dubious quality, this was probably a good option.

In previous centuries, loads of children were wetnursed.

There is a human milk bank at our local hospital, whereby mothers with an excess of milk can donate bags for consumption by newborns and premature babies whose mums are unable to feed them for whatever reason, and has health benefits for these little ones.

As long as I had given my consent, I wouldn't theoretically have a problem with another woman feeding my baby (if, for example, I became ill). TBH, I'd probably prefer it in the short term to giving formula. That said, I can understand how you might feel side-lined as a mother if someone else was developing that close bond with your baby.

Up to the individual I'd say, but I don't think there is anything remotely yucky or unnatural about it.

ravenAK · 29/08/2008 22:45

I'd be up for it.

SIL & I both have 6 mo bf babies, & live practically next door to each other. I think it'd be a great idea, SIL is in the 'eeeewww' camp.

But I wouldn't bf anyone else's baby without their express consent unless life or death situation - eg. SIL pops to shops, dnephew niggles a bit - no. SIL in long term coma - yes...

sillybigsausage · 29/08/2008 22:45

I think its lovely actually and always have - the thought of women being able to feed each other's babies in a crisis

sillybigsausage · 29/08/2008 22:47

raven LOL at "express consent"

Bubble99 · 29/08/2008 22:54

DS3 had/needed EBM.

I was so grateful that the (anonymous) mother had done that for my son - I wouldn't have minded if I'd witnessed her feeding him, TBH.

Bubble99 · 29/08/2008 22:54

I mean DBM, of course.

ravenAK · 29/08/2008 22:57

sillybigsausage! Oh dear.