Would you let a friend breastfeed your baby?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Christina on January 22, 2009 at 5:40am

I have breastfed someone else's baby (my cousin's); while she was learning to breastfeed. I was a health-freak during and after my pregnancy so she was okay with it as far my diet goes. We also hoped that this would help her baby learn how to latch-on.

I would consider letting a very close friend or family breastfeed my baby.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Briellis on January 22, 2009 at 9:13am

I don't think I would. I'm sure there's an exception to this and I'd let someone if I wasn't physically able to for some reason...like if I was injured. I don't know. Interesting topic.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by DeeJay Quick on January 22, 2009 at 11:01am

Not without a blood test or unless it is a life or death situation! I know it sounds harsh and mistrusting of friends and family members but please hear me out for just a second. I am a LYME disease sufferer. It is one of the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood diseases on the planet. It is also the fastest growing disease in the United States right now. This disease can be passed on through breastmilk and to the baby invetro. There are so many people that are seemingly healthy but carry the bacteria and don't even know it. Please, do some research on lyme disease before you let anyone breastfeed your baby. I have an "aquiantance" who believes she was infected with Lyme through a blood transfusion she needed after giving birth. She continued to breastfeed not knowing, she and the baby (who is now 6) both suffer from Chronic Lyme disease. Sorry to seem like a downer, but seriously, I deal with this every day...please EVERYONE be careful. Don't mean to scare you but if that's what I have to do to stop this ugly disease...well then BOO consider yourself scared! Sincerly, with you and everyones baby in best interests.......they are our future! Deejay Quick

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thelma tiemann on January 22, 2009 at 4:52pm

not sure if this is something i'd feel comfortable with. You just never know what other people's health history is. People don't always "share" everything

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Miranda Lamb on January 26, 2009 at 8:57pm

I wouldn't, I don't want anyone but me bonding with my baby in that way.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary on January 26, 2009 at 9:34pm

Absolutely not. That would be as devastating as letting my friend have sex with my man. It's a personal bonding thing.
I'm actually in awe of the ppl who wouldn't mind. Not to say they are wrong...it's just not my thing.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Julia Wallace on January 27, 2009 at 3:50pm

I think that the "ick factor" alone would keep me from allowing this. If anyone were going to breastfeed my child it would have to be ME.....MOMMY!!!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Geri on January 27, 2009 at 4:11pm

This is absolutley Repulsive. Don't go by me, I think breast feeding is gross, archaic. Most people do it beacuse they are cheap. And also they like the attention. I have two kids, both bottle fed, very healthy (Thank God) and were not colicky. Almost everyone I know that breast fed, their kids are always sick and they are coliky. Sorry no buddies sharing their nips - YUK!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary on January 28, 2009 at 9:32am

Well I wouldn't go as far to say that ppl do it because they are cheap. It's most nutritious for your child. It's a difference of using bleach products in your home to using all natural chemicals to clean. It's just healthier. Not to say that formulas have bleach or unwanted chemicals....its just healthier. I breast fed both of my children for their first 4 months just to give them the boost. It wasn't exactly fun, full leaky breasts and breast pads were not my idea of fun but I felt as a mom that was the best decision to make for my children. Breast milk helps build your newborns immune system a lot better than regular formulas. But I have heard of mothers who have bottle fed like you that do have healthy babies.
No one is wrong in their choice....but sharing the job is just out of the question.

Geri said:

This is absolutley Repulsive. Don't go by me, I think breast feeding is gross, archaic. Most people do it beacuse they are cheap. And also they like the attention. I have two kids, both bottle fed, very healthy (Thank God) and were not colicky. Almost everyone I know that breast fed, their kids are always sick and they are coliky. Sorry no buddies sharing their nips - YUK!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sue Eble on January 28, 2009 at 10:26am

I read the other comments first and I acknowledge that health reasons could easily make the difference in your decision. However I did let someone else breastfeed my youngest occasionally, it was her older sister who has a child just 5 months older. This is not a foreign idea for my family since my grandmother was a "wet nurse" to another child with both of her babies. That was before bottles were advanced as they are now. Grandmother had LOTS of milk and the other mother's couldn't breastfeed so it worked for everyone. I think I would lean towards another family member but if your "somebody" passed your health worries then I'd say do it!
The health of the baby is always the most important thing. Did you read where the mom of octuplets is pumping milk so that each of her babies can have a few millimeters of milk and so get the benefits of helping their immune system get that boost? Good for her!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cyndi from Western NC on January 29, 2009 at 8:38am

I have ONE friend that I would let breastfeed my baby because I know she's free of disease, loves my kids like they're her own, etc. This would only occur of course if something was wrong with me so that I could not do it myself. Otherwise, I'd go to a breast milk bank and get my doc to write a script. (my baby was a micropreemie so he would have qualified)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Me'chele on January 29, 2009 at 10:10am

I think for me breast feeding is a very personal thing with mommy and baby. I would not want anyone else to breast feed my child but..that said I don't know unless faced with that decision. If I had a very ill child and I was unable to breast feed I would want my child to have breast milk that had been expressed over formula.

I guess it is one of those choices that I don't know unless I was faced with it. Interesting topic

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last