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?

Yes, I do it regularly with my sisters baby and she feeds mine. I have even wet nursed my friends baby a couple of times. I think it is perfectly normal and would encourage any mums who are considering it.

I probably would have fed another child if the need had arisen but like others would not like the idea of anyone else feeding mine (but probably would probably be grateful if it were an emergency or something)
My mum was asked a few times to breastfeed other babies when she was in hospital having us (South Africa in the '60s) if the mother was ill or something as she had lots of milk. She said it was really really strange looking down at a baby that wasn't your own - even only a few days after giving birth you know when a baby isn't yours ....

I wouldn't have any problems with somebody I knew feeding DS2 (would obviously only want somebody drug/nicotine/alcohol free). He's a milk monster, so would probably take it from anywhere (except a bottle)!

Would happily feed a strangers baby in an emergency, and a friends baby whenever. I'd just see it as extra calories out, so more cake could go in. In fact, were it not for the fact that I take ad's I'd offer to have a friends baby overnight so that they could get a decent nights sleep.

I've offered my sisters a taste of EBM before (jokingly), and they're always horrified. I do find it strange that they'll drink milk from a cow that lives in a muddy field, but not their sister who they know (and are meant to love!).

Yes without hesitation. I am not sure how I would feel about someone else feeding my baby though.

Laura - I love the cake eating theory

When I was having teary day 3 baby blues day I asked my sister if she would feed dd for me if I died while she was little. My sister just laughed at me and told me not to be silly....her youngest was 5 years old at the time

Yes in an extreme situation I would. As for someone bfing DD, only in an emergency, and not just anybody, I don't think I'd feel ewww, just a bit jealous IYKWIM. It's not something I would do casually.

I've actually found myself thinking dreamily of wetnurses when I read old novels...I was rubbish at b/f and it really hurt, and I stopped anyway at about 4months as I went back to work and children went to nursery. Now if I could have had (very cheaply or in fantasy land!) a nanny who would b/f them for me too...sounds a fab idea if you could afford it. All the gentry used to do it!

Very choked up by SM's post about the woman on the Spanish beach. That is lovely.

I would BF someone elses young baby, and would be happy for someone to do the same for me and mine. After all we drink milk from a cow at least this is the same species!

Someone else breastfeeding my child? God it's a bit like them sleeping with my husband - no thanks!

I have b/f someone's else's baby, and two of mine have been b/f by other people. Can't see a problem with it personally, far preferable to formula imo.

PMSL mrsmac.

am surprised and a bit concerned about comparison of feeding a child to an adult sexual relationship, tbh

I dont have a problem with other people doing it but dont think i could do it or watch someone else bf my son

Interesting question.

In a emergency..of course
For my sister..of course

But I would prefer donor milk in a bottle for my own daughter.

like everyone else I would be happy to feed another (wailing,hungry)baby,but i would be jealous of another woman feeding mine,i think it would make me feel dispensable!But in an emergency I would be grateful forever.The only thing I would worry about is HIV if it was a stranger.

I tried to nurse my friend's child once when babysitting and he was crying for milk. Couldn't find the milk (it wasn't in fridge) so whipped my boob out. Baby had given up bf 6 months previously so couldn't remember how to do it so in the end I phoned the parents who told me which cupboard they kept the UHT in.

I'd rather some one else bf my own babies than they should have any formula, but the need never arose.

Yes I would. But I don't think I would like someone else to BF DD, maybe only in an emergency, if for some reason I couldn't.

Yes, I would. Also happy to have any of my sisters bf ds (one of them did) but wouldn't want a stranger to do it unless there was good reason.

I had great difficulty getting dd to latch on in the early days, so my sil popped her on for a few minutes to get her going and then we did a quick change a couple of times. I was just immensely grateful and I think so hormonal it didn't really seem weird at the time. BF was never that great for me but I hope I get the chance to do it for someone else sometime as I sort of feel I have a karmic debt to pay now!