Curious: WWA14D? (Wet nursing.)

SoulTermination · August 2014

So, since tornado season is approaching for my area I've found myself thinking about this. If a disaster were to strike and you were huddled in a storm shelter or some other relatively safe place with other people, would you go so far as to nurse another mama's baby? For example, let's say she's on medications that make breastfeeding inadvisable and she was too panicked to grab the formula before getting to safety.

I would, as long as I had alcohol swabs or at least soap and water to wash off my breasts between infants to try and ensure they didn't get each other sick. If things were really bad (i.e. Hurricane Katrina levels of destruction) I'd forgo even that until the other mama could get hold of some formula, just assign a baby a boob and don't mix them up to lessen the spread of germs if possible.

What would you ladies do?

momofmanyinthemitten · August 2014

Yes, I'd nurse another baby.

Serenla · August 2014

Of course I would nurse a baby.

RedDawnsRevenge · August 2014

Absolutely, not even a question. Washing your breasts between babies is not nessasary. If they were sick when you went into the storm shelter there's really no stopping the spread, and cleaning between between nurslings would just prolong the illness. Cold sores/herpes being the exception but even washing between them wouldn't be a guarantee. If I was in an area like that is store a clean hand pump and spare bottles and seal it in a bag. There was an article on a Chinese police officer who nursed 9babies after a natural disaster there many years back.

AmberLiz99 · August 2014

Wouldn't anyone do that? If the baby had no other food you would have to be cruel not to

Bluebird2318 · August 2014

Absolutely. I would do it in far less dire circumstances than that. If my SIL had a baby and was out of formula for whatever reason, had to run to the store to pick it up, etc. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable nursing at her request. I don't think it has to be any different than bottle-feeding someone else's baby as long as both parties agree to it.

Sisimama10 · August 2014

Yep. And i would nurse everyone else down in the storm shelter too.

momofmanyinthemitten · August 2014

FWIW, my 3 aunts did a nursing switcheroo with their 3 month old babies who were all born within 2 weeks of each other. The babies freaked out because they knew right away it wasn't their mom.

Twirple · August 2014

I would absolutely nurse another baby. Babies have an uncanny ability to sniff out a nursing mom. I have had more than one baby get passed happily from person to, then start crying when they get to me because they can smell my milk and they are hungry.

AcaAwkward · August 2014

This is so incredibly random.

Who would really answer no? I don't really think any mom would refuse to nurse a starving baby. Or I would hope not.

Now, wet-nursing in non-emergent situations? Kinda creeps me out, not gonna lie.

BiggerinRealLife · August 2014

Sisimama10 said:
Yep. And i would nurse everyone else down in the storm shelter too.

How very Grapes of Wrath of you, @Sisimama10‌.

Sisimama10 · August 2014

My SIL nursed Danny when he started crying while I was outside with DD. She asked first. Didn't bother me.

BiggerinRealLife · August 2014

celticlullaby said:

BiggerinRealLife said:

Sisimama10 said:
Yep. And i would nurse everyone else down in the storm shelter too.
How very Grapes of Wrath of you, @Sisimama10‌.
You read my mind, BIRL!

@celticlullaby‌ I always knew I liked you! Smart, classy, Celtic, AND literary!

ksulli · August 2014

I would nurse a friends baby if she needed to have time alone. Wouldn't hesitate. One friend had mastitis and a baby who would only take bottles (long story), so I told her she could come have my LO nurse if the pump wasn't clearing her out.

J&NL · August 2014

I thought about this a couple of days ago when I watched my friends son. He won't take a bottle and even though I was only watching him for an hour I thought to myself, what would I so in the event she would be longer and he was hangry? Would I nurse him? Do I ask her?? I'm not sure what I would do, honestly. It's a little strange to me but I guess if it was in a certain situation then yes, I would. But if it was for the hell of it... No, thanks.

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