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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Just wondered - would you breast feed a friend's baby??

299 replies

clairemow · 16/08/2006 15:08

Just been having a conversation with a friend - would you be happy breast feeding someone else's baby, and how would you feel if someone else offered to feed yours?

I was thinking of the sort of scenario where you've had to leave your baby with someone else, and they need a feed, like if you're really sick or something.

I don't think I'd have a problem with it either way tbh.

OP posts:
katesa · 17/08/2006 20:37

Haven't read all the posts and am probably gatecrashing a discussion that has long since swayed off the topic so apologies but for what its worth....would def b/f a friend's baby in an emergency. In fact, was hospitalised very suddenly when ds2 was 2 weeks old and unable to b/f due to heavy doses of drugs and tried to get donated b/milk so not sure what the diff would be (maybe less intimate out of a bottle?) DH thinks its crazy that women don't wet nurse anymore and give each other a break

Charlee · 17/08/2006 20:40

I couldn't feed anyone elses and would hate the thought of anyone else feeding mine. Don't know why TBH just feels wierd.

Charlee · 17/08/2006 20:40

Then again in an emergency where there was NO other available source of food i would and vice versa.

mummyhill · 17/08/2006 21:06

If I could I would and I don't think I would object to someone doing the same for me if they were family or a close friend.

Why do we suddenly have a problem with a perfectly good system that had been used for centuries?

I wonder if the use of wet nurses became popular again if those who used a wet nurse for say 1 night a week would be less likely to suffer pnd as they would be getting a bit more sleep?

ginmummy · 17/08/2006 21:18

No way, too intimate!

hester · 17/08/2006 21:40

What an interesting thread - people's gut feelings are so different.

Personally, I would be very happy to BF another baby - or have dd BF from another mother.

Beetroot · 17/08/2006 21:40

I can't believe no one found my post of the slightest interest..

Cam · 17/08/2006 22:04

What was your post Beetroot

Twiga · 17/08/2006 22:13

It would depend how close I was to the mother/baby concerned. Would certianly have no qualms about it if was my sisters baby (no chance of this as she's stopped at one). I Think like a lot of people I would feel more hesitant when it came to someone else feeding my dd. Would have loved to donated ebm when dd was tiny as supply was way above what she needed and I've thrown away a lot of frozen bags of milk that we never used before they were past their best. I think for me it would have to be an emergency thing rather than a stand in thing. If I ever had to do it I would consider it an honour as it is such an intimate thing between baby and mum.

fistfullofbanners · 17/08/2006 22:35

a friend did once feed my baby, hers was prem and not feeding well, she expressed some then fed my son to get her milk going. Caused a flutter among the midwives.

cowmad, you are utterly and completely wrong about African women not b'feeding each other's children. I know a man who was b'fed by many women as a baby, because his mother couldn't. It is the traditional way to give babies a healthy start even if their mothers can't b'feed for one reason or another.

olivia35 · 17/08/2006 22:44

Wouldn't have a problem either way (feeding someone else's/some one else feeding mine). Seems like a complete no-brainer.

HOWEVER I read something recently (it dimly penetrated post-'dd's birth' haze) to the effect that, if a baby has a virus & is breastfed, the mother's immune system 'picks up' on the virus whilst bf'ing & manufactures antibodies to zap said virus (presumably these are then passed to baby at next feed).

It sounded a bit far-fetched to me, but if it's the case, would it be possible for a virus to travel from the non-related baby to the bf'er & thence to her own child?

It might've been an infection rather than a virus. I could just be talking complete bollocks. Sure I read it on here tho' (about mum's immune system manufacturing antibodies for bf baby's bug).

laundrylover · 17/08/2006 22:57

I did Beetroot.
Fistfull please don't start her off again!

SecurMummy · 17/08/2006 22:59

Beetroot - I found it interesting! It was part of the thing that made me think a bit more about my position!

cowmad · 17/08/2006 23:12

didnt say african women didnt breast feed other children....oh bullocks i looked....baps sore l.lover ...feeding the world!!!feed the wwwooorrrllddd....

laundrylover · 17/08/2006 23:14

Hi Cowmad how you doing tonight?

cowmad · 17/08/2006 23:17

ok now car went a boolock too much rain..electrics tripped..i tripped why do you want to know??does it take your mind off chaff?

laundrylover · 17/08/2006 23:20

Was just being friendly - what's chaff??

cowmad · 17/08/2006 23:26

(baps thru gate?) really sorry for remarks last night i know it is weird calling people weird (i sort of, still do stand by, content of what i said but maybe delivered a bit harsh an off the cuff) didnt see tho how vvv an hunk munk got so arsey ,can only assume they have

hunkermunker · 17/08/2006 23:32

Assume I have what, CM?

A divorce to my name, hmm?

Do go on.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 17/08/2006 23:33

Tee hee. That wasn't arsey.

CarolinaMao · 17/08/2006 23:33

so Beetroot, this bfing grannies thing...

do tell us more!

spiker · 17/08/2006 23:37

Went through exact same thought process as securmummy, ditto, ditto, ditto.

clairemow...men who can lactate?? I'm too tired to tell if this is a wind-up or not, please take pity and tell me if it's true.

cowmad · 17/08/2006 23:38

bugger woke them up

laundrylover · 17/08/2006 23:41

Feeding thru the school gates is an expreassion applied in a jokey way to people who bf very late.
Still don't know what chaff is other than what you seperate from the wheat....

SaintGeorgeMarple · 17/08/2006 23:42

spiker - 'tis true.

There were some trials at a hospital local to me involving giving guys certain hormones and proved it was possible. Some men do it spontaneously (sp?) apparently.