Would this be weird?

[AllyTiel]

I have a friend from church and we've been hanging out a bit lately. She told me she would love to do a babysitting swap where I watch her baby sometimes I she watches mine another, so we can take turns going on dates with our hubbies. I have some friends that do watch my daughter fairly often (every 3 weeks or so), but I found out my friend hasn't been on a date since her baby was born 4 months ago. She said the other day her baby isn't good at taking bottles yet as she's strictly breastfed. I still pump, (latching probs with my baby) and I had a thought of maybe if her baby isn't wanting bottles maybe I could offer to breastfeed her while Im watching her? Now please tell me if this is too weird of an idea, or if anyone has done this. How would you feel if you were dying to go on a date and you had a friend offering to do what I was? I don't want my friend to think I'm a freak or anything, but It just seemed like a good idea! I just don't know if I should bring it up to her. I would hate for her to be so weirded out by the offer that she would stop being my friend :/

 

[Saki]

For me personally it is not something i think i would like (someone else feeding my son i mean, i could maybe imagine giving my breastmilk to another baby though, dont know why i have us distinction between the two!) but you could mention it to her...be prepared for her to recoil though. Also, maybe if she said yes you could try breastfeeding the baby with her present, just incase either one of you change your mind

 

[Dezireey]

Well, personally if a friend offered to do this for my baby I would politely say 'no thanks' but still be her friend and not be angry with her at all. Depends on your friend really. breast feeding is a bonding thing so can be disruptive if another Mother does this but..... Many years ago, when we lived in mud huts ( lol) groups of women did this for the others when needed, so it's not an alien thing to do?

 

[Bevziibubble]

I would happily bf someone else's baby, but the thought of someone else bf my baby would hurt, if that makes sense! I'd feel jealous. Obviously if it was medically necessary for whatever reason then yes. I don't think it's weird to ask though, she can only say no, and she'll probably appreciate that you were prepared to do that to help her out.

 

[deafgal]

It probably would. To be honest I have not gone out to a child free date for years. At least not since they gave my husband weekends off (it used to be we go out when our son was in school).

 

[AP]

Worth an ask I think!

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

It doesn't hurt to ask Personally I would say no, but you never know. I think she might be taken back by the suggestion at first, but then again she may appreciate the offer and take to you up on it.

 

[Aimee4311]

I'd say it wouldn't hurt to offer! I'd offer to breastfeed for a good friend, but like the other ladies I can't imagine someone else BFing my LO! It's a nice thing y'all will be doing for each other, regardless!

 

[Noelle610]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think it would be lovely to offer! It's honestly not that weird. In most cultures, other lactating women regularly nurse babies that aren't their own.

 

[jd83]

Certainly can't hurt to offer. I think its really sweet of you to offer, even if she doesn't take you up on it. Honestly, I'm not sure how I would feel about that kind of offer. I think it would've depended how good of friends I was with someone to whether I'd be comfortable with them bf my child (back when I was still bf). But I wouldn't be offended to get that kind of offer, even if i decided I wasn't comfortable with it.

 

[weejenb]

Personally I'm not keen on the idea of another woman breastfeeding my baby. However if anyone had ever offered I would have politely turned them down, I wouldn't be offended or think that they're weird! I say go for it, you've nothing to lose

 

[ShelbyLC]

I think it would definitely be worth an offer! I know that if I hadn't been on a date in 4 months and I was afraid to leave my baby because I didn't want her to go hungry, I'd probably jump on an offer like this! Of course, it depends on the person, but you'll never know her answer unless you ask! And I would happily bf a friend's baby as well.

 

[Elisianna]

I agree that it would be nice to offer. Everyone is different and she might just take you up on the offer. If she does say no I doubt she will think you are top weird and stop being your friend.

Breastfeeding another woman's baby when necessary is normal human behaviour. Both my mom and my grandma breastfed other babies at some point. Of course, my mom was furious when she found out another woman had secretly breastfed her son (but they are still friends 22 years later).

 

[Mrs_Random]

You know, I would be comfey with a close friend breast feeding my child - it wouldn't bother me.
To the child it's just food - I know it's a bonding thing etc but I wouldn't be jealous or anything.

I'm saying that but no one has offered so I might feel different if the oppertunity arose!

I would happily offer to breast feed a friends baby too - I nearly did my nephew as my SIL was struggling to get him to latch so we were gonna see if he would latch to me as I had a bigger milk supply - we also discussed letting my 3 month old latch on her to try & increase her supply!
Ended up not bothering as she decided to pump instead.

 

[bookworm0901]

I think for me it would depend on how close we were, but I definitely don't think it could hurt to ask. I would probably present it in a way that shows that you realize it's probably not done every day, like "I know this might be a weird idea, but I was thinking...." and "It's totally okay if you aren't comfortable with it, just giving you an option for a free night" etc.

 

[deafgal]

I wished I never watched movies like "The hands
that rock the cradle" or even "like water for chocolate"(the mother tried to establish breastfeeding with her child but the other woman has interferred it secretly) otherwise this would not bother me and think it is a great idea)

 

[star1]

I would make it sound like a spur of the moment thing. SO, maybe offer to babysit and if she expresses concern about lo not taking a bottle, then offer x

 

[amotherslove]

i would happily nurse another baby and would be totally fine if someone i trusted and she trusted nursed her

 

[AllyTiel]

Thanks for all the opinions so far ladies! Here's another thing, don't know if it matters, but I never really did (aside from twice) manage to breastfeed my baby without a nipple shield and its really got me down. I'm pretty much over it but a part of me wishes to know if I can actually breastfeed. My daughter has a lip tie so she always had issues with latching. Then when she was 2 months old I switched to pumping. My friend knows about this. Don't know if that would change anything.

 

[Noelle610]

Thanks for all the opinions so far ladies! Here's another thing, don't know if it matters, but I never really did (aside from twice) manage to breastfeed my baby without a nipple shield and its really got me down. I'm pretty much over it but a part of me wishes to know if I can actually breastfeed. My daughter has a lip tie so she always had issues with latching. Then when she was 2 months old I switched to pumping. My friend knows about this. Don't know if that would change anything.

I had similar difficulties breastfeeding and I understand you desire. I don't think that would change anything, only because it sounds like the issue was with your daughter's latch and not your ability to feed her.