Cross nursing

[isthatsocrazy]

After a debate with my husband, I'm interested to hear views on this. It's where an aunt or friend feeds the baby from their breast. I couldn't exclusively breastfeed my son at the beginning and we used some doner breast milk. I was very grateful for this and to me the only difference between this and cross nursing, is the baby being at the breast. So I am of the opinion that it is amazing and a gift if someone were to do that for you. It's not strange to me, I don't think. Wondering what others think.

I would have been happy for mine to be cross nursed and to have fed someone else’s baby in an emergency. I’m sure it was a totally normal thing for most of the history of humans.

For me breastfeeding was such a personal, loving, bonding experience between me and my baby. I struggled with supply and ended up having to formula feed both my DC, which still eats me up to this day. I wouldn't have wanted another woman to feed them. Although I'm not sure if this might have been more out of jealousy, that I couldn't do it properly myself. I didn't mind using donor milk in hospital when it was necessary, so perhaps I'm a hypocrite.

My granny fed her sister's baby when she couldn't bf, this would've been 40s / 50s I think and also a poor area. I've always thought that was amazing. I wonder if it also helps to have more than one mum's antibodies, it must have been really common pre formula.

A lot of people would prefer donor milk or other human milk eg cross feeding over formula. Mainly as it’s better for the baby and less likely to cause constipation etc.
I looked after a friends wee boy for her family funeral and she’d asked if I could BF him if needed as I was BFing my son who was a few months younger. As it was her son didn’t need fed but I’d have done it happily enough or at least given it a go. It’s only milk. And who would rather hear a baby cry or be upset than to stick a boob in its mouth if you could?

A good friend and I with babies the same age fed each other’s babies to allow a weekend away. Not newborn, they must have been about a year or so.

A very close friend and I were both breastfeeding at the same time and would feed each others babies if needed. eg. If I was round her house and she nipped out or was sorting the toddler when her baby woke up, I'd feed him and at other times she did the same for mine. It didn't seem weird, just a very natural 'this baby wants milk, I have milk so why leave him crying until his mum gets back'. Obviously I wouldn't do it with any just baby, but we've been lifelong friends, and have an 'auntie' type role in our children's lives.

Like a wet nurse?

I guess I'd have been happy to feed my nephew if my sister was stuck somewhere else (unplanned) but I sort of feel like this is what pumps/expressing technology developments are for.

Id feel odd about anyone else feeding my DCs and im not sure they would have gone for it either tbh

I've fed a friend's baby a few times when she's had to rush off and be with her eldest in a medical emergency. She was the one who asked if I'd mind, as baby didn't take the bottle well and cup feeding was hard going as baby just wanted the breast. It did feel strange to start but mainly because my youngest is a toddler and her baby's latch was different.

I don't think this would bother me. I'd feed someone else's baby in an emergency and would hope someone would feed mine in an emergency too!
I suspect this used to be very very common before breasts were fetishised.

I like that it wouldn't be an issue for so many who have posted. I totally agree how saddening it is the way breastfeeding is viewed in the west. It's the most amazing (and hardest) thing I have ever done, and the negative attitudes baffle me.