I think I saw a grandmother bf her grandchild today, genunine non judgy question

[Cathpot]

At playgroup today a I saw a lady in her late 50s possibly early 60s who I dont know but say hello to, bf the child I understood was her grandchild . So, is this possible or have I misunderstood the situation? I ask because years ago I remember a friend's mum who had bf 4 kids, saying that when she first held her grandchild she felt her milk let down. She was something of a drama queen so I always took it with a pinch of salt. I always thought that was interesting. Can you get your milk back years later by feeding even if you havent given birth recently?

lol tmj

sounds highly sus to me

if women had milk let down every time they went near a baby the world would be truly alice in wonderland

I agree the most likely situation is that this is an older mother BUT in some cultures gms do bf and I understand it is possible to relactate. Not sure if it's harder post menopause. Was the baby upset? Could she have been putting her to the breast just for comfort?

Apparently you can bf if you never have children and just adopt so maybe it is possible.

it would be a mightily strange thing to do tho

Yes it was probably me I had my first at 42 and my 2nd at 43 and have often had rude people assume I am their grandmother when I'm having a harrassed/bad hair/run out of wrinkle cream/gone to the wrong playgroup full of teenage mums type day.

late 50's early 60's

I know that my mum felt a type of letdown the first time that she held DS1 (the boy who slept in your bed last Saturday ). I don't think that she meant that her milk actually let down, just the kind of feeling that you get when you're first bfing. I know I feel something similar when I see someone bfing a newborn, or hear one crying. I'm still bfing DS2 though so it's a bit different.

Perhaps she was letting the baby have a suckle. Apparently I used to do that to my dad. Could never get DH to see if it would work with the DS's though

It's possible to relactate.

Your breasts supply milk according to demand. When wet nurses were used, they would often 'work' for 30 or 40 years - well into their 60s, having fed several generations of children.

I was admiring a set of tiny twins once and was about to comment to the grandmother how gorgeous they were. Before I actually said anything she went on to tell me about their birth, leaving me in no doubt that she was actually the mother! She really did look well into her 50's, even 60-ish, all lined and grey hair.

Were you bfing at a playgroup in the SW today Flibbertyjibbet? Otherwise why the ?

I am totally shocked - I never knew this

women who have never given birth can lactate?

Chances are she was the mother - egg donation means women can become mothers very late in life.
A neighbour has just given birth to twins aged 49 (her not the twins, obviously)

hmmm, so are we saying you can relactate later in life or not? Whither the usual barrage of interllectual links to the scientific evidence? I suppose I could have just asked the question without dragging in the presumed granny from rl. I currently look about 100 so I really am not having a go.

I wasnt just going on how she looked incidently, lots of other little factors like the child's dad was there and how she acts round him, ie not like his wife or partner. Now will have to get chatty over the playdough and find out.

hi fourarms, must go Dh back finally!

So why the bloody hell couldn't I 'relactate' 4 days after DD's birth then?

You can definitely definitely relactate in later life. Well as long as "The Politics and Culture of Breastfeeding" (I think that's what it's called) is a reliable source.

It talks about women in their 70s successfully relactating. Breasts are amazing things, as if we didn't all know that already

how come you dont relactate during sex then

I have done Zippy! Although it is only 4 months since I finished feeding ds2.

prob more likely that the woman is feeding her own child...though on a bad day i dont look like granny but grandad!

will watch this thread

how do you get your breasts to lactate then if you've never had children or if you stopped a long time ago?

yes, it is absolutely possible to relactate. women who adopt can also lactate to feed their adopted child, but would need medication to help them do so.

however, I think in this case it's just an older mum who looks older than she is

adoptive relactation

The book I've been reading called 'Bestfeeding' says if you just put the baby to your breast and let it suckle you should but not always make milk. I couldn't believe it when I read that.

I haven't breastfed for 13 years but can still get liquid out, looks more like colustrum than milk and is more obvious when my boobs hurt in the week leading up to my period

I still get the let down feeling but without any milk 3 years since I last breastfed.

well in this rfespect i am definitely dried up

despite extreme provocation