Cross Nursing - Natural extension or disgusting and weird?

I just want to correct some mis-information you stated. As a nurse, it is very sad that you don't know the facts about breastmilk. It is possible that these facts were not known when you were a nurse. The immunities in breastmilk are present for as long as the mother is producing milk. In fact, the mother's milk changes as the baby grows, producing milk that is specific to her older baby's needs. As the child naturally weans, these immunities become more concentrated so that the toddler would receive the same amount of "good things" in even a tiny amount of milk. When natural weaning takes place, the milk returns to a "colostrum" like consitancy, similar to the milk that first comes in. It is also sometimes called "weaning milk". This colostrum is loaded with immunities, vitamins, minerals, live cells, and countless things we haven't discovered yet. The benefits of breastmilk do not disappear with in the first weeks, or ever.
I will not comment on the rest of your statement, it is entirely your right to state your opinion. But the medical industry does a huge dis-service to the population by spewing out false information.

TO J STOLLS.........Contrary to your thinking, I am correct. I have only been away from active Nursing for 18 months.

We did NOT encourage Mothers one way or the other. We truly felt it was a personal choice that they needed to talk over with their spouse/partner and their Doctor and Pediatric Doctor. There are many things to consider when making a choice to bottle or breast feed, but first and foremost is the health of the Mother who will be passing that milk onto the baby and then the needs of the infant. But as I originally stated, depending on how much the child consumes at each feeding depending on when the antibodies are depleted. After that it is nothing more than a "physical feeling". Not only was I taught this in Biology in High School, but in Nursing School and in constant "Inservices" over the many years of my Nursing Career that were held where I was employed. I support whatever one feels best as long as they do so with "dignity and decorum". However, it is felt by many that The LaLeche League is on a quest of their own having lost sight of what their original "mission" was and no longer considering the health and well being of Mother & Child, but to toot their own horn so to speak.

The ONLY debate about this, should be if it is to benefit the child if the Mother is in good health and if choosing breast feeding to do so with dignity and decorum. That is my stand on the issue.

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html

"Family Restrooms" often don't have anywhere to sit but the toilet. Most places DO NOT have anywhere private for women to nurse other then a restroom. I'm sorry but I don't feel a mother should have to sit on a public toilet for 20-30 minutes to nurse her child. Thats gross.

As a former nurse, I want to point out that after the first 2 - 4 weeks of breastfeeding, the antibodies DEPLETE... not disappear. At the same time, the volume of breast milk increases to meet the infant's growing needs; thus, the baby still gets a dose of antibodies and the appropriate mix of nutrients from breastfeeding. At no point in time does it become "just a physical thing."

I think I can say, with a fairly objective voice, your grandmother's experience cannot speak for the entire Notheastern US. Not only have children been wet nursed across the nation, it was not only limited to Black mammies, nor was/is it limited to the United States. This is an International phenomenon... always has been. In times past, the mortality rate for mothers was extremely high, and when the mother died, so did the infant... regardless of race, religion or geographic location the world over... without a wet nurse. Not just for the wealthy; not just by slaveholders in the South. Since this is the "only time you have heard of them," it strongly suggests your education ended with a degree in nursing and didn't include any history or sociology... anything which would have taught you better than to buy into the prejudice of the stereotypical fallacies tied solely to the "Deep South."

A woman nourishing a hungry child is the most natural thing in the world, certainly nothing a mother should have to hide in the bathroom closet at the airport to do. I prefer women who breastfeed in public use a little decorum... whether they are nursing on the city bus, or shopping in the Neiman Marcus designer shoe boutiques. But I must have some flexibility because mothers cannot breastfeed unless the child can latch on to the breast, and this doesn't happen unless the breast if exposed in some way. Your disdain for women who nurse their babies in "upscale" restaurants suggests you have an elitist attitude, moreso than an etiquette issue. And I can't understand how can one equate breastfeeding with a degenerate flashing himself at unsuspecting women to get a sexual thrill, subsequently allowing him to successfully masturbate.

Breastfeeding is natural and healthy for an infant. Mother's milk is best, but life doesn't always move along the same path for everyone. How to feed her child is a mother's personal decision and is based on many factors. Regardless of whether the baby is breastfed, cross-nursed or formula-fed... what matters is caring parents who work to make solid choices resulting in healthy, happy children.

that is just so ignorant and disgusting. I feel bad for your children

Bottles only work when the baby will take one. My boys refused every type of nipple on the market, which was frustrating as I wanted to get out more and leave them with a sitter (or their dad!)
Whenever one of my babies needed to nurse, I found a discrete way to accomplish this - and I made sure they had eaten prior to my going to a very public place.

Lisa: You certainly have been indoctrinated into the idea of breasts (boobs, tits, etc.) as sex objects. It's unfortunate that so much of our society has done the same. Notice all derogatory terms for the female anatomy are male created to further their self image or dominance by reducing the importance of females . A breast is NOT a dirty thing. Remember, there is NO reason for women to have these things we call breasts (boobs, tits, etc.) other than the fact that they are necessary if one has offspring to care for. Without them there would be no human race or any other type of mammalians on this earth. "Mammal" means giving birth to live young and having the ability to feed them, which is why breasts are properly referred to as mammary glands. Ergo, humans are mammals. Amazing!! (This is just to fill in the large gaps in your education.) Further, breast feeding is the way nature intended babies be fed. Drop your shame dear and accept what is natural--you wouldn't be here without evolution and/or mammary glands. ( P.S. this dissertation comes from a 70 year old who nursed her children, has been married happily for 46 years to the same sexy man AND breast fed all her children.) PPS: You may also be interested in the fact that breast feeding seems to have some very positive effects on shrinking the abdomen after giving birth and reducing the chances of breast cancer in later life.

How can someone think breasfeeding is gross??? If you do, you have to be perverted or something, because that is just weird to think that it's gross.

Personally though I wouldn't want my baby to be "nursed" by another woman (ESECIALLY someone I didn't really know). I'd rather just nurse my own baby. And this cross nursing wasn't as popular as you might think back then either, ask your grandma.

Also, now-a-days for those working momma's they made pumps so easily accessible, and there are afforable ones out there. Pumps also help if your engorged to soften the breast. So unless you honestly just CANNOT breastfeed (not "don't want to", I mean "CAN'T") then this Cross Nursing isn't even necessary.

You can't ignore the facts though that breastfeeding is so much better than formula!!! Hundreds of scientific studies have been performed that proove it. In general just some of the benefits we know of are smarter babies, easier digestion, stronger immune systems, obesity prevention, protects against SIDS, diabetes, asthma, and so many other things. The FDA requires formula companies to (in a nutshell) duplicate natural breast milk, but even the best out there cannot match it; this is because many of the substances in natural breasmilk are too complex they cannot be manufactured and many of them have still not even been identified.

I am a new mom and definately chose to breasfeed. It is such a close bonding experience with my little baby girl, it is something so natural and innocent for a mother and child. God is a great Creator!!! Those that think it's gross are just weird to me, because you have to be perveted to think that!!! Believe me there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING sexual about breastfeeding...lol...that's just weird.

As for those who freak out if someone is nursing in public, get over it...the baby has to eat. Out of respect of courtesy for other people though, breastfeeding in public should be done discretely, I don't see how a mom wouldn't want to be discrete about it anyway (it is a very private and special thing). If you go to a resteraunt ask for a booth and sit in the corner, then if baby gets hungry grab a blaket and cover you both. There should be nothing wrong with that in public. Why would that be a problem (as long as your covered). It's ridiculous really, because to some people breastfeeding in public is unacceptable, but when another women wears a slutty revealing shirt it's fine...that's backwards to me!!!

lili1801

I nursed my daughter for 2 1/2 years and it wasn't because I'm a pervert. My daughter will be 4 in Oct. and if it were up to her she'd still be nursing, so by you calling people perverts because they nurse their children for an extended period of time, you're wrong. Being that you had no desire to nurse your children, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Never thought of it that way - guess it is a good thing the hospital tests breastmilk before they feed it to newbies!