Would You Feed Another Woman's Breast Milk to Your Baby?
Filed under: Breast-Feeding, Opinions
Breast-feeding is such an intimate act -- but blogger Taylor Newman shares her story of feeding her baby another woman's breast milk on Parenting.com:
I'd caught wind of the heated breast milk debate/divide (who could miss it?) before becoming pregnant; I knew about the benefits of breast-feeding and breast milk, and also about the countless healthy, happy formula-fed babies out there in the world, enjoying life.
I was formula fed myself, and haven't suffered from any IQ or immune system deficits, so while I appreciated from the get-go all that breast-feeding has to offer, I didn't get swept up in the politics of it.
I felt in the beginning of pregnancy, in that early stage of constant nausea and soul-crushing fatigue, that nine months was a long time for one's body to host another being, and thus found myself leaning toward formula feeding in the interest of regaining a level of physical autonomy as soon as possible. Once into the second trimester, however, bumping along nicely and adjusted to the idea that my autonomy -- physical or otherwise -- was long gone (forever), and feeling okay about that, I decided I'd give breast-feeding a whirl.
There's been an interesting little twist of events in our story, recently. I have a standing weekly play date with a good mama-friend and her 18-month-old son. We're the same age, embrace the same general parenting style, have similar senses of humor -- you get the idea (a good friend). She's breast-fed her son exclusively, though, is still nursing, and offered to pump for Kaspar. I was floored. Pumping was a serious drag for me. I'd sit with that thing for forty-five minutes and get three ounces if I was lucky, but my friend here can pump that same amount in five minutes flat. Still, I was stunned by the offer. "You'd pump for him?" I asked in disbelief, to which she confirmed, "I'd be happy to."
So, Kaspar's getting breast milk and formula again, and to be honest it makes me feel good -- really good -- to know he's benefiting from all of the healthy stuff breast milk has to offer.
I'm feeling lucky for our inside supply.
Read the rest of the story here: Would You Feed Another Woman's Breast Milk to Your Baby? (I Am!)
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-30-2010 @ 11:14AM
Bsanchez said...I have lived this experience and it saved my son's life....my son was diagnosed with Malabsorption Syndrom and was allergic to milk, eggs, and grain....could not break down nutrients and I was fortunate enough to have a pediatrician whose wife was involved in LaLeche League and women from all over the district pumped and froze milk for my son. Truck drivers as far away as 145 miles transported the frozen milk in their cabs and I met them at the terminal for pick up. My son is now 37! Breast milk from the milk bank was $0.50 an ounce and we were living on Navy pay....
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9-30-2010 @ 2:56PM
CLM said...I became a mother through adoption and I would have loved to have been able to give my boys breast milk. It would have been preferable to the Nutramigen (sp?) they ended up on due to a severe milk protein allergy. The Nutramigen did the job, but there is no getting around the fact that it doesn't have as many calories as breast milk. Since my boys were only 5 lbs at birth (twins), those extra calories would have been welcome. Wet nursing was not at all uncommon in the past, and while I am grateful for the invention of formula that has saved the lives of innumerable infants, I think there is still a place for it where and when possible and appropriate.
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10-01-2010 @ 11:42AM
Najiya said...Thats a beautiful story and a wonderful friend u have. In my religion Islam, we have breast milk relation, which means if any baby is breast fed by another woman, for health and feeding reasons, she automatically becomes his mom. Hes blessed with two moms...
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