Article on Wet Nursing

[Tatties]

Did anyone see this article in last Friday's Guardian? There was a lovely picture of nurses feeding abandoned children in a foundling hospital in Rome in 1932.

[Quootiepie]

Great article, just read it now

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Oh brilliant article.

Thanks for that.

[mamama]

Interesting... thanks for sharing

[kiskidee]

hmm, i wonder if wetnursing in hollywood more pays more than my current job.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

.

[chipmonkey]

PMSL at kiskidee contemplating Going To Hollywood to wetnurse!

[shonaspurtle]

Really interesting article - I agree we do live in a culture with a "breast fetish" which makes sensible discussion of this sort of thing difficult without arousing moral indignation or sniggers.

I wouldn't have a problem with someone else feeding my child if I was temporarily incapable although I think I would be jealous of the closeness if it was a long term thing (similar to my personal feelings about full time nannies though).

I've often wondered if high-profile, successful women like who are very health conscious (bmacrobiotic diets, best that money can buy for my child etc) but want to get back to their careers soon after giving birth would consider wet-nurses. Obviously some of them do.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

I wouldnt think twice about b/feeding a friend's baby if the situation arose.

Nor would I be bothered about someone b/feeding mine should I be incapable.

Although, I have to say - although I am still b/feeding my DS, he is 20 mths and I wouldnt want someone to go out of their way to b/feed him a morning or night feed when he eats and drinks so well anyway. I mean, he has teeth and everything

[Laura032004]

Lovely article. I'd have no problems feeding somebody elses baby (not so sure about toddlers and teeth though!). When DS2 was in hospital recently, I expressed lots of extra milk (he was dopey so not feeding as much as normal), and I ended up freezing it and bringing it home for DS1's porridge as they didn't have a milk bank, or know anything about one locally. This was a children's hospital, with lots of babies suffering problems due to prematurity and mums struggling to bf due to separation etc.

[tanyaeve]

What a lovely article! Thanks.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Hunker bump.

[kiskidee]

i've encouraged dd to latch onto dh now and then but she doesn't seem keen.

[Laura032004]

DH (v.v.v pro bf) is disgusted whenever I suggest trying to latch DS2 onto him. Thinks it's really wierd for some reason. I just think it would be great for the times when DS2 just wants a dummy.

[pointydog]

?

had to re-read that one a couple of times.

Not many guys would go for that.

[evilsparklystepmom]

what a brilliant article! i would be more than happy to feed someone else's baby for them - think would only want dd to be fed by someone else though if the only alternative was formula, like in that car crash example. not an issue though as she is on lots of food in the day and only really feeds firstand last thing. how would you offer to do that for somebody though??!! has anyone done it/has anyone been made an offer??

[Tatties]

Glad you all like the article! Evil, I'm the same as you, I'd be more than happy to feed someone else's child, but would have no idea how to broach the subject with friends... If it was a close relative's child I wouldn't hesitate to offer if the situation ever arose.

[garbo]

My cousin left her baby with a friend for a couple of hours. They were both breast feeding similar aged babies at the time. She was a bit late back and when she got there the friend said 'hope you don't mind but I fed her, she was screaming!'. Cousin said she wouldn't have said yes had she been asked but as the deed had been done, nothing she could do and really it was a sensible solution. It was before mobile phones so she couldn't text to say, 'back in 5!'.

[worleygig]

lol at latching on to the dp/dh's !!!
i dont think i could have someone ele feed me baby although if it was expressed bf maybe, its the closeness and the feeding from someones elses breast that i dont think i could get me head round.im still feeding ds2 at 6 months and expressing for while hes at nursery which i feel is different to actual breastfeeding. my friend had so much milk while her daughter was in scbu that it was fed to the other scbu babies also, they nicknamed her daisy as she was expressing so much.

[kiskidee]

it is only tongue in cheek playing around trying to latch dd on, pointydog. nothing we are seriously trying. i just wanted to see what dd would do. she just looked at me as if i was barmy. after all, she is 20 mos old.

[worleygig]

lol still, i think i might suggest to try to get ds2 to latch on to dp! he will probably be disgisted though!! but a laugh still.

[pointydog]

ok kiskidee!