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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

would you breastfeed a child that wasn't your own?

77 replies

artisanroast · 27/03/2016 20:06

Hi,

Bit being adverse to controversy...

I thought I would put the question out there...

I would gladly feed a friend's child. I feel it offers ultimate comfort to a baby.

I will stop breastfeeding at 9 months to hopefully conceive baby no 2 but I could happily breastfeed for longer. (I was very much in the feed to 6 months then stop camp until I realised how much me and my daughter love it).

So... Would you? Do you?

If you did feed a friend's child how did the subject come up? Tell your story...

OP posts:
Elllicam · 27/03/2016 21:33

It wouldn't bother me to feed someone else's baby but unless it was a dire emergency it would bother me someone else feeding my toddler.

hesterton · 27/03/2016 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
artisanroast · 27/03/2016 21:43

Mrsantithetic - love you feed your nieces, just beautiful :)

OP posts:
dinodiva · 28/03/2016 09:27

Yes I would and I have done.
It was quite instinctive when faced with a very distressed baby.

claraschu · 28/03/2016 09:32

I have breastfed several other people's babies. It felt completely fine.

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/03/2016 10:53

I would. I just read the link about the police woman. I wouldn't hesitate in that situation. My ds won't take a bottle, of he was upset or unhappy and a friend could feed and comfort him then I think I would be fine with that.

Junosmum · 28/03/2016 11:18

I wouldn't have an issue and actually think it would be useful:

Sheila: Lily is really hard to feed, I don't think her latch is right.
Susan (experienced breastfeeding mum): it looks ok but give her here, ooh no, you are right, its very shallow. You need to encourage her to open her mouth more and of you feel it getting shallow again detach her and relatch.

I don't see an issue with it if you know and trust the person. Obvious reasons not to share breast milk whether expressed or 'from source' would be infection, but if you've had all your blood work in pregnancy then you should be fine.

Writerwannabe83 · 28/03/2016 11:56

I would have no problem breastfeeding another woman's child if she asked me to for whatever reason.

However, I can't picture ever wanting somebody else to have breast fed my baby...

mrsjskelton · 28/03/2016 11:59

In an emergency then yes of course I would! If it meant a child suffering without. I read a story about a breastfeeding police officer (I forget which country) who found a starving infant and fed it to keep it alive. Amazing what we women can do Smile.

KP86 · 28/03/2016 12:33

Yes, I would. I donated excess expressed milk through HM4HB Facebook group. If need be I would breastfeed directly, but never, ever without permission.

However, it would take a bit of effort to feel comfortable with someone else feeding my child! I know that's a bit strange considering I donated...

lottielou7 · 28/03/2016 12:43

Yes I would have no problem feeding someone else's baby if they didn't.

lottielou7 · 28/03/2016 12:46

I remember reading a story about a woman in Australia who tried to take legal action against another woman who breastfed her baby because the child was hungry and the mother wasn't there.

itsbetterthanabox · 28/03/2016 13:21

Yes I would.

Lottie2611 · 28/03/2016 13:21

No I wouldn't. There's no need. Just give them a bottle

alltouchedout · 28/03/2016 13:22

If their mother wanted me to or in an emergency situation where there was no formula to feed it and it's mothers wasn't around/ able to feed it, yes of course I would.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 28/03/2016 14:12

Yes definitely. Suspect if I'd been born centuries ago I would have ended up a wet nurse Grin

If I had some emergency meaning I couldn't bf DS, my first alternative choice would be a close friend. Not sure if want someone I didn't know to bf him as I wouldn't know they were healthy. I assume donated milk is tested and checked so that would be fine.

Arfarfanarf · 28/03/2016 14:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoganJosh · 28/03/2016 14:25

ohfuckaducky I suppose she means 'averse' rather than 'adverse'.

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 28/03/2016 14:32

SIL was having terrible trouble getting our nephew to latch, and ended up not being able to breast feed him. I was BFing DD2 at that stage and offered to have a go at feeding him to see if I could get him to latch okay, so we could try to identify the problem. She thought about it but in the end declined. She regrets that now, but he's a healthy strapping lad and she went on to BF her DD1 fine, so all was well in the end.

I wouldn't think twice about BFing a baby who needed feeding and their mother was either absent or wanted me to feed her. It's all just milk.

WellThankYouAJPTaylor · 28/03/2016 14:33

Yes, of course, if the need arose. And I'd be delighted for a willing someone to do the same for my baby if the need arose and I wasn't there.

Sootica · 28/03/2016 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 28/03/2016 15:14

I wouldn't mind feeding someone else's baby if they needed me to in some circumstances.

I wouldn't mind if someone else bf'd my baby if it was in a particular circumstance.

But, truly, such circumstances have not transpired.

clarella · 28/03/2016 18:33

My sister is due soon and will bf. I've considered offering if she wanted a couple of hours rest and baby was hungry. But I'm not sure how it would go - I don't have much now, ds generally only has it once or twice a day; more and you know he's ill. I think she would accept the offer.

My mum was briefly baby sitting my son at around 6 months while we shot out to the pub. He yelled blue murder when he woke. She actually tried offering but it was spat out in disgust.....!!!

Questionsagaintoday · 28/03/2016 19:21

If someone's baby needed to be fed urgently and the task of her care was down to me I would feed her formula

If in the same scenario (1) formula didn't exist (2) I was lactating then yes I would feed her.

StrawberryLeaf · 28/03/2016 20:54

Yes I would happily. Would be quite curious to know if it feels different feeding someone else's baby!

I'd be a little more hesitant deciding on someone else feeding my baby but if needed if be ok with it.