Thinking of offering to bf friends baby when babysitting but............

[Star1ightExpress]

A bit worried after that other thread.

She isn't a close friend but our DC1s are of similar age, we fell pg with DC2s at same time and gave birth within hours of each other. We see each other almost every week day at various groups, but not sure if we'd choose each other as friends without children iyswim.

Anyway, in a month she's hoping to have a night out (DC2s will be 2.5 months) and has given herself until then to try to express, but it's not going well.

She is reluctant to give formula because her baby is already attending regular (unneccesary imo) hospital apppointments for weight gain and she doesn't want to complicate the issue.

As DH and I are supposed to be babysitting, I thought the logical solution would be simply to bf her DS, but she hasn't suggested it even jokingly and I'm worried about her reaction if I offered.

Any suggestions?

I personally wouldn't offer. I would encourage her and support her with the expressing.

Are you expressing yourself? Could you offer her some EBM?
I agree that in your shoes I wouldn't offer to bf friend's baby, but some EBM might be more acceptable.

Personally I wouldn't have been comfortable with the idea until fairly recently, but this night out is REALLY important to her and she was never able to express for her DC1.

I'm thinking it'll only be 2 or 3 feeds max at that age?

In any case I prolly wouldn't suggest it until nearer the time IF she has been unable to express!

I could/would offer her either to choose, but her DC1 never took to the bottle so I think it has shaken her confidence (although I suppose cup feeding is okay)

I suppose the odd ff and lying to the hospital is also an option!???

one ff won't do any harm. why would the hospital object? i think you should offer ebm, and throw in that you wouldn't object to bf - but in a casual way so she can respond or not.

I personally wouldn't offer, you may offend her and it may be awkward between the two of you then. Just let her decided what she wants to do, its her baby after all.

I would casually introduce a conversation about women BFing each others kids. Say you erad an article about it or something. See what she says. Then decide whether to offer.

If you want to offer and you think that it really would help a stressful situation (and it sounds like it would) then offer.
I would. Just say it in a very easy to decline way in case she doesnt want to.
I'd say something like 'I know this may seem like a very strange offer and I fully expect you to say no and wont be offended, but just in case you dont say no I will go ahead and ask - would you like me to bf your baby when babysitting if you cant express/he is unsettled so that you can enjoy your night out without worrying?'
I'd be really touched if someone offered the same to me, even if I didnt want to take them up on it. Just make sure you give her an out if she doesnt want to.

2point4kids Thanks, I can perhaps offer like that!

I'm thinking of donating bm too, so if I can get myself organised then I'll be fully 'screened' by then too so she won't have that worry!

Which is the other thread? I'm thinking of offering bfing help to my cousin who's PG with twins, but not sure whether it would be too weird.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/634229-Ewwww-Somebody-at-toddlers-offered-me-her-breast -milk

Thanks!

I wouldn't be offended if someone offered to me (though I'd have to know them quite well) but would be worried about causing offence myself. Some good suggestions on here.

FWIW, my cousins and I seem to have been bandied around fairly freely amongst our aunts!

Sorry but if anyone offered to bf my baby, unless it was a life or death situation (or something serious like stuck in a lift all day) I would freak out. No-one is bf my baby but me. It makes me want to cry actually the thought of anyone else having that bonding time with her. The only other person who I would let do it (and impossible) would be DH.

Expressed milk in a bottle is different. It is just milk. However, it would not have been screened and you never know.

In other cultures it's the norm but there's the risk of hiv transmission. Not saying this applies to you Starlightexpress in anyway - but if someone offered to bf my little one I'd say no because of this risk.

God, I would love someone else to do the occasional feed (been reading the thread about men lactating with interest ) - I love DD and I'm so happy and grateful that bfing is working out for us, but would love a break occasionally. I am a terrible mother!

Ah - the emotional stage seems to have completely passed me by (I didn't even get the baby blues). I clearly have a heart of stone!

Caprica - no the bottle didn't make me cry! Unfortunately, I have never been able to express so dd has been on a bottle of formula since about 4wks as I was ready to collapse. I didn't cry when DH gave it to her but don't think I would have let anyone else give her the bottle apart from him.

She is as of yesterday now on 3 bottles a day and 3 bf but I still don't like the thought of anyone else feeding her apart from us!

Starlight sorry, didn't mean to insinuate that there was something infectious about you, I just meant about any expressed milk that had not been screened.

Personally if someone else offered to b/f my LO then I would say no HOWEVER I would still think it is a lovely gesture and I can't see why someone would be offended by this. 2point4kids put it best.

Personally, I am having a meltdown about having to leave DS for three days next week and he won't take a bottle. I WISH I had someone I could ask to feed him. I would rather he had that than went hungry and unconsoled as he is teething badly and not wanting to eat much in the way of solids either.