prepared I took her to the couch. My boys gathered around excited to help feed her. I tried the bottle and she wasn't interested. I was told that she had been taking a bottle like a champ lately, but she just wasn't having it. Leo, my still nursing 3 year old told me "I know! She needs your mommy milks!" I was hesitant because we had tried nursing when I babysat before, with her mothers permission of course, but she was not at all interested. But Leo insisted.. so I tried again and she nursed! She happily nursed for several minutes and then she was content and went back to playing. That was it. She needed some familiar comfort and milk and she was ready to play again. Later on she nursed some more. She even fell asleep nursing. She was so much happier than the last couple times I babysat for her.
This isn't the first time I have "wet nursed" someone's baby. I used to nurse a baby boy I babysat for also. He would get so sad when I nursed Leo and he wasn't nursing too. His mom and I talked about it and she told me to go for it. The next time he was upset I offered to nurse him along side Leo and he was just the happiest boy! The boys would hold hands while the nursed and got a kick out of having a nursing buddy. So why isn't this normal?! Why is comforting a baby in the way their mother would comfort or nourish them not the usual way to comfort? I'm not talking about having everybody under the sun nurse your baby. It's understandable that you would approach something like this with caution. But a few close friends? Someone you trust who happens to be nursing their own child. It goes against our instincts to have a baby cry and not take care of them the best way we can. Sometimes, as lots of tired new mamas know... that means nursing! How much easier would it be to leave our children when we had to knowing they would be comforted in their most favorite way. Wet nursing is the original formula! It doesn't take away from mother and baby bonding. It's just a temporary fix until Mama returns. Obviously you have to do what you and your daycare providers or babysitters are comfortable with. But think about it as an option. Amelia returned to her mama totally ready to nurse and bond with her as usual. Let's bring wet nursing back! Have you wet nursed? Would you? Would you let someone else nurse your baby?
4 Comments
Rebecca
2/5/2015 10:50:44 am
When I was nursing, I didn't have anybody - just me. No sitters, no daycare, no friends or family that were also nursing. Would I allow someone else to nurse my baby? Yes. It has become taboo, as if having someone else keep my child happy and healthy is only allowed to come from it's mother. When women adopt and are able to nurse their new baby, that is one of those absolutely amazing facts that prove that you do not have to be a child's biological parent to take advantage of nursing. When women do not produce enough milk, or have another reason that they themselves are not able to nurse their young, I fully support milk sharing. Thank you for sharing this, Brooklyn! May just one person's eyes and minds open up to this!
Melanie Renfrew-Hebert
2/5/2015 11:33:40 am
I was a first time adoptive mom of a newborn. I was a bit desperate to undertake adoptive breastfeeding but my little one wanted nothing to do with the SNS. Sadly, he wanted little to do with the bottle either. Formula was too harsh and we spent a lot of time cleaning up various body fluids. As we struggled to find the right mix all ego went out the window as I became frantic over my little ones dropping weight. We were concerned, our doctor was concerned. As a child in the 70's I had watched my mother tandem breast feed my sisters and the children of working moms in the neighborhood. I would have given anything for my son to have that option if only so he was comforted and nourished. We eventually found a formula that worked but I would have given anything to have spared him those first few frustrated weeks.
Caren Minery
2/6/2015 12:42:59 am
After I had my son, I did not want to leave him and go back to work as a CNA. I chose to find a job where I'd be able to stay with him and continue breastfeeding exclusively. As fate would have it, the connection was made, and I found an amazing mama of two girls, 1 and 3 years old, who held the same views on breastfeeding and its endless benefits. She needed someone to watch her girls and I needed a job. She worked from home so she was able to nurse whenever her girls needed/wanted to. There were a few times she had to go to NYC overnight for a work meeting. Leading up to that first overnight trip, we discussed wet nursing and I of course was madly in love with her daughters and she entrusted me with their lives. What's more natural for a nursing child than nursing? If the need was there, I'd do it. So there I found myself tandem nursing my then 2 year old son and her 1.5 year old daughter and it was the most natural thing. I continued caring for these girls for four years and our kids grew to be more than friends but extended family. The connection we all have is strong and will continue for the rest of our lives. I'd do it all over again!
sarah
3/18/2015 09:45:12 pm
Caren, that is so amazing and wonderful. I hope when my third child is born that I have a friend like you who can swap like you did. Did she ever nurse your daughter or just you burse hers? Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPhotographer, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Intactivist, Seamstress, Partner to my long time boyfriend, and Mindful Mama. Archives
October 2019
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