Would you bf a child who isn't yours?

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Further to that post about wet nursing, would you breast feed someone else's child?

I had this conversation with my sis and we both agreed that we would be happy to feed each others lo's and probably close friends lo's.

However, we wouldn't want anyone else feeding our lo's! Not sure if it is the eeewww factor, or control freaks in us!

What do you think?

I wanted to, when Lisad was in hospital and couldn't feed her Dd2, I even considered giving her my frozen EBM from SCBU, but didn't feel comfortable to ask

Absolutely, I would!
I really miss it...

I'm pretty sure that I would - particularly for a friend but also for a stranger in an urgent situation. Would feel a bit funny in the reverse situation, ie someone BF my child.

I would no probs (I think!).

Both my sisters are due this summer with their firsts so if I'm still bfing I may give it a whirl.

Had no urge to bfeed SIL's newborn last weekend tho - didn't even feel broody!!

I think not.

I do worry that I might absent-mindedly feed the wrong one sometime though.

I would do it. Not sure who would want to feed my 2.3yo ds though - complete with nipple twiddling

DH and his uncle were born within 6 weeks of each other. DH and his uncle were both fed by dh's nanna at one point or another (obv dh was fed primarily by his own mam). I don't think mil fed her brother, now that would be to weird.

I would definitely donate EBM (although it can't be done here in NZ afaik). I would not hesitate to breastfeed any baby whose Mum asked me to.

I agree that thinking about my DD being bf by someone else gives me pause, however I have a divine and scrummy established bf relationship with her myself, and am able to do it when and where I please. If this was not the case, maybe I would rapidly rethink!

It would seem that the majority of us would be more than happy to either donate bm or feed someone else's lo. That makes me feel all warm inside, and shows how normal and natural bf'ing is.

Most of us still have issues about our lo's being fed by someone else, but I think I would be right in saying that it was more to do with the close bond bf'ing brings rather than anything else.

Yes! I have fed my best friends baby. She would feed mine too if need be. No problem with it at all.

I think it would depend on how much it was needed and how close I was to the person whose chid it was.

If there was no desperate need right at that moment then I'd probably express and give via a bottle rather than my breast, but only because I think it is such a personal and unique bond.
If I was in a situation like, I dunno, a plane crash, and a baby needed feeding I wouldnt hesitate.

IMO, it is very similar to surrogacy because it is using your body, if a friend needed eggs to conceive I'd donate no problem but I'd think a lot harder about being a surrogate mother.

I'd be the same with my own baby too btw, if my baby needed feeding and the only way was someone elses breastmilk or formula I'd choose breastmilk, but it would be preferable that they expressed.

Haven't but would have no problem doing it, family, friend or stranger.
Would not love the idea of someone else bfing dd, but in an emergency would much rather that than formula

I would definitely without a doubt
I wouldn't mind someone else feeding my baby too

I have.

When DD1 was under 6 mo I used to leave her with a friend 1 morning a week and had her baby 1 morning in return. I Bfed her DD once when she wouldn't stop crying, and she fed mine once.

It was odd in that babies don't feed the same way so it didn't "feel" right, but the baby didn't object, and neither did mine for her.

I'd feed someone else's baby and wouldn't mind someone I know feeding mine, esp if it had meant I could have had a good night's sleep while they did the honours!

yes I would find it strange I think but more strange not to do it if circumstances required, if that made sense

I am not sure if I would let someone feed my child just out of convenience... it IS intimate IMO as hercules said...but I have an open mind about it. It certainly would make life easier if you had a young baby or ardent bfing older child, and had to / wanted to be elsewhere

Like most others I would have no problem in feeding someone elses baby (I loved BF and was gutted when I had to give it up - babies choice both times) but feel funny about someone else BF mine - however I've never been in a situation where I've needed it so I can't really say

Yes, I would if the need arose. I realy enjoyed it with both mine and fed to 16 months. Not sure it would work now tho' (6 years since last fed a baby, but my boobs still tingle if I hear a tiny/newish baby cry

I couldn't BF DS direct and ended up expressing for him. I have often wondered whether the failure was down to my ineptitude or whether my boobs are just really horrible (totally irrational). If someone would lend me their baby for 20 minutes I could find out Or else I will have to wait until DC2, who isn't even planned yet.

I would if I was any good at it . I only managed 6wks . Only for close friends and family though and only in a situation where they were completely unable to do it i.e. in hospital etc, not just on a shopping trip IYSWIM.
Don't fancy it the other way round with a stranger as you don't know what their milk contains . There was a programme about how many chemicals can contaminate breast milk through absorbtion through the skin and inhalation, if anyone saw that?

NineUT - if I can have another will gladly lend him/her to you - just so you can prove your boobs are wonderful!