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Could another woman breastfeed your baby?
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Cross-nursing is on the rise. For those unfamiliar with the term, cross-nursing is when someone other than the biological mother nurses a baby--with permission, of course. There are mixed opinions about cross-nursing. Babytalk magazine conducted a poll about this subject, and 45% felt that cross-nursing was "disgusting" or "weird."
I have nursed all three of my children. I am a major advocate of breastfeeding and nursing children if it possible for a mother. Cross-nursing? I have never tried it, but can see the benefits if a mother is healthy and the relationship between the two mothers shows that this is what is best for baby. I certainly don't think that cross-nursing is disgusting or sexual. In many other countries cross-nursing is a way of life.
Moms who nurse have it tough enough dealing with public opinion. I recall the difficulty of finding the "right" location to nurse my child in public other than a restroom. Yuck! If a mother finds another mother who wants to help her continue to nurse her baby, then why not? The La Leche League- an organization that provides support and resources for nursing mothers-- recommends that a mother who is nursing another be screened for tuberculosis, HIV, syphllis and hepatitis-associated antigens, according to a recent article Baby Feeding by Mom's Friend, by Ann Pleshette of Good Morning America.
Weigh In. What are your feelings about cross-nursing?/ Do you feel that it is disgusting? Do you support breast-feeding in general?
Live fully,
Mia
