Would you give your sister permission
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Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21705
Printed Date: 22 October 2025 at 9:00pm
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Topic: Would you give your sister permission
Posted By: WigglesFan
Subject: Would you give your sister permission
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:15am
| to breastfeed your baby? Just wondering how people feel about it. Also wondering whether there is any correlation between the way that people DO feed their babies and how they feel about others feeding them. Eg. Are bottle feeders more likely to think that others nursing your baby has the yuck factor? |
Replies:
Posted By: WigglesFan
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:30am
LOL! Nobody game enough to post? 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:32am
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Yep, I would. There was a thread on wet-nursing awhile ago which got me thinking about it and I decided I'd be happy for my baby to be wet nursed or given EBM from another mother if I was unable to feed it for some reason. -------------  
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:33am
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*snorts* maybe we're all just too busy -------------
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WigglesFan wrote:Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:50am
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Probably not wet-nursed but would be happy with EBM.
Was talking to a MW about this recently - apparently under WHOs baby friendly guidelines, they are meant to promote wet nursing/other person's EBM over formula feeding. ETA - I wouldn't want wet nursing cos I see BF as something that promotes the bond b/w mum and baby. I don't think I would cope watching Daniel have that close a relationship with someone else. I'm a BFer, BTW. And what kind of MIL do you think I would make  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: WigglesFan
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:56am
| What about as a once off. Say hypothetically, your sister was looking after your kids and your baby finished all their EBM or wouldn't bottle-feed? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:57am
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Probably not to "wet nurse" but feeding EBM would be fine. My mum's milk when i was born was used to feed the prem babies in teh hospital as she had so much. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:58am
This is how I think as well |
Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:58am
 no, i would prefer my baby to have either my own breast milk via breast or ebm and if i couldnt then formula.
it seems a bit icky to me- i know what i eat etc.. and my general health- cant control someone elses diet etc... my dad was wet nursed and my hubby was too- my mum raised on the farm was given cows milk cause her mum couldnt feed!! i wouldnt want to fed my neice or nephew, would seem waaaaaaaaay to weird BUT in saying all that, if there was a major disaster and something happened to anyone and a baby needed feeding (including my own) so life or death yeah it would be ok. |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 12:03pm
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Wet nursing was once common practice amongst the upper classes in England, before the advent of formula, I think with the ability to express, its not necessary to provide a wet nurse service, and yes I'd be happy to give EBM from another mother over formula if I wasn't able to bf myself for some reason.
Don't have a sister, and agree with it being the mum's role to feed her baby however she can, not someone else. I'm aware this is done in other cultures, but not ours. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 12:14pm
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don't know if I could be comfortable with someone else feeding Ella, but EBM is fine.
But if she was a newborn and if I had a sister who could BF her and it was a once off then I wouldn't have a problem with it. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: WigglesFan
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 12:17pm
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Okay, here's my perspective,,,,
...if I had a baby who for some reason or another wouldn't take EBM or formula from a bottle or sippy cup AND if I had a sister who was also nursing, I would have no hesitation giving her permission to nurse if necessary. Why? Because I couldn't bear to think of my baby upset and desperate for the comfort of the breast and know that I am denying what he needs because I feel uncomfortable with it. My boys have all been picky feeders and I have never been successful at getting them to drink EBM or formula as anything but a novelty. So dh and I just don't go out. 
Of course neither of my sisters are breastfeeding currently and they both live at the opposite end of the country to me! |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:07pm
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For me, its not even something I would consider. BF is an amazing bonding experience between mother and child. I would not want anyone other than me to ever nurse my child.
Same goes for EBM. Nope. Formula would be the only option I would consider if I was unable to BF. You still get to bond with your baby when bottle feeding, can still gaze into their eyes etc etc. Only my opinion of course
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:11pm
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Yes I would give my sister or a close friend if she was nursing at the time the permission if she was comfortable with it. When Lesieli was a year old and I was still BF my aunty had a baby and asked me if I would breastfeed her baby if it woke up while she was out. It was a newborn, I declined as I didnt feel comfotable having another baby feeding off my nipple but I was also 18years old at the time. MAybe I would be different if asked now I dont know, but really I dont see anything wrong with it for others. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:11pm
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I think I would happily let my sister BF my baby if I couldn't. And vice versa.
Definitely if it were just a one off, I'd much prefer that to my child being hungry and upset. With regard to wet nursing, I would be sad that I couldn't do it, but very grateful that my child was getting the benefits of breastmilk from someone who I trusted and who had a strong relationship with them. I agree that feeding your child is a very close bonding thing, but when I think about how happy both my kids were whenever Daddy walked in, despite not having the boobies, I think our bond would still be strong. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:14pm
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I should add, the thought of anyone who isn't as close to me as my sister feeding my child makes me feel very cringey and icky.
My MIL used to go on about wishing she could breastfeed Ella and it made me want to keep Ella well away from her, just in case! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:28pm
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  I dont blame you, I would want to keep her away too------------- http://lilypie.com">
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:42pm
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yep i wounld we as in my sis and me have talked about it and iff we could we would ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: sweetpea
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:46pm
| umm i think expressed is fine but not breastfeeding unless it was a situation where its was a very close family memeber and bub had finished what they had or wouldn't take it it also had to be a one time thing too. |
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 1:58pm
| This is a good question!! I was just thinking the other way around too - would I BF my niece/nephew? I don't think I could due to the bond thingy - it's too intimate for me but would feed EBM from bottle no worries. |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 2:24pm
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My older sister use to breast feed my younger sister sometimes, this was 18 years ago. I probably wouldn't mind doing it myself, but while baby is a newborn I would think....plus I was very healthy during pregnancy and postnatal in comparison to what I now other family members do during that time so if it would help the baby in anyway then yeah why not. ------------- 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 2:29pm
| Yeah I would prefer my babies to have somebody elses bm than formula. I think I'd prefer to express for another baby than actually breastfeed them but if I had to I would. |
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 2:30pm
| If it was needed then definitely (and I'd gladly do it for a family member or close friend) |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 2:31pm
| I just thought I'd add I don't think I'd express/brestfeed someone elses baby for any reason other than an emergency, not just ebcause I was there. I would never leave my babies in a situation where they would need to so would only expect it in an emergency situation as well. |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 3:15pm
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Hmmmm....NO!!
I feel weird about it!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 3:15pm
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One of my oldest sisters used to babysit my next oldest sister when she was younger (oldest sister was about 19 at the time). My oldest sister had a baby 2 months older than the sister she was babysitting (I hope that makes some kind of sense!!!!), and as far as I'm aware she used to b/f her when necessary...personally I find it a bit icky, but that's JMO.
ETA: This was about 26 years ago BTW. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 3:46pm
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I don't think I'd let my sister BF one of my babies, and I don't think I could BF anyone elses baby but I'd gladly donate EBM if I could find someone that would take it - I've got 3+ litres in the freezer and a baby that refuses the bottle. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 4:25pm
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lol emma i was just thinking about your stash. ummm i wouldn't bf anyone elses kid can't even feed my own. not sure about havng someone else bf my kid. i know my grandpa had a wet nurse, and my mum and her best friend both had a boy a month apart and they swapped one day before ds was born my uncle had said its comon practice in poor coutreis to swap your babies around coz it gives all the babies different umm whats its like immunities to infections etc. ------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel 07/08/2014
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 6:31pm
i have never given my babies anything other that breast milk from me, no bottles or anything and never let that be a reason to not go out. in fact we have quite a good social life even with a 7 mth old. I wouldnt completely rule out the possibility of letting my sister or someone else feed my baby but right now the answer would be no as there is no need for it. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 6:39pm
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I wont mind giving milk (expressing) but dont know if I will take for my child unless there is no other option.
Some stuff can get through milk (food and health wise) so you will have to trust the person and right now close by I cant think of anyone that I can trust that much. However if the choice came that say a disaster happen and that is the only way they can feed my child I dont think I would mind one bit. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Henna79
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 6:43pm
I don't think any of my sisters would want too  One of them is already talking about getting a surrogate to carry her babies as she doesn't want to 'ruin' her body I think one of mums friends fed one of my brothers one day as he was hungry and mum was unable to feed him at the time (can't remember why). I'm not sure I would be comfy with it. One of my big things is breastfeeding and I don't want anyone to take that away from me.
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Posted By: shaz
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 7:00pm
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I don't think I'd mind my sister feeding my baby we actually have babies only 3 months apart in age. But she lives in OZ , But I would only ever consider her as I know how careful she is with what she eats/drinks etc while BF.
I don't think I'd be comfortable feeding anybody else's kid unless it was in extreme circumstances. ------------- Mum to Natasha Aroha 9/12/1995, Alexandra Makareta Waimarie 22/4/1998 and....Alyssa Frances Hopaea 18/03/2007 
[/url] |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 8:56pm
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It doesnt creep me out or anything, but I dont think I would like anyone else to b/f mainly because of the bonding thing. Would be happy with EBM but only from someone who I knew very very well - and had a whole lot of trust in. Obviously with your own milk you know what you have been eating, drinking or smoking (hopefully not) and you cant say the same about anyone elses milk. Emma I wish you had that stash a year ago - I might have taken you up on it!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 9:05pm
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I've started giving it to the gremlins mixed with their bottles. I don't know if it is of any nutritional benefit to them, but given how sick they always are it can't do any harm and I'd rather see them drinking it than pour it down the sink It's bloody hard work making milk, it's far too precious to waste! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 9:41pm
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I'm a breastfeeder and I love the bonding side of things, so I think a wet nurse situation definitely would have the potential to make me jealous. I can't imagine my sister feeding my baby or vice versa (not that she has one) as our relationship is not that close, but if circumstances were different or it was for a close friend, I would definitely give that baby a feed if the mother was ok with it (or let them feed mine).
But then, I think it has a limit. I think I would prefer to use formula for 3-6mos+ if I was unable to bf. ------------- |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 16 October 2008 at 11:13pm
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Yeah that's like me, up until around 3 months if BF another child....not a random though lolz. Wouldn't trust BM from anyone else close to me cos I know what they're like!...plus my BM mustn't be too bad since my son always gained weight from birth, and is hardly ever sick *touch wood*. I guess for me it's not such a big deal as it's in my culture...haven't seen it happen in my family for a long time but I guess that's the change in times, as well as having kids at different times, also age difference between me and the older 3 sisters. -------------
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Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 12:45am
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Yeah I would be fine with it. Of course, I don't have a sister... ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 9:36am
Amen to that!  
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Posted By: xnikx
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 6:13pm
I totally agree. Even though Charlotte is WAY past that stage, i could never consider that option, no matter who the person was. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Troods
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 6:26pm
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My initial response would be no.
My sister and I have bubs 3 months apart. The topic came up before her bubs was born and we both agreed No to wet-nursing but would consider bottled EBM if it was an emergency but the first option would be formula. ------------- 
Missed MC July 2011
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