Wet-Nursing

What would your feelings be if you walked into your lounge to find your child-minder breastfeeding your child - without any prior discussions with you about it?

I ask the question after reading this story.

Personally, I would be horrified. I'm not against wet-nursing and certainly it was normal practice in days gone by. But, as it apparently begins to make a reappearance, it's of concern to me that people may be practising it for the wrong reasons and without any health checks.

No matter how well I knew another breastfeeding mother, and regardless of whether or not she was currently breastfeeding her own child, I would be very concerned about any undiagnosed illnesses she may be carrying and passing on via her breastmilk, not to mention the breach of trust involved in this case.

Remember, before any breastfeeding woman is cleared to donate her expressed milk to a milk bank she has to pass some rigorous health tests. That's the way it should be and the way it has to be in order to protect the defenceless and often very ill baby who will be fed her milk.

But wet-nursing is often practised between family and friends. I have a big problem with that. Quite apart from the interfering with the special breastfeeding bond between mother and child, the over-riding concern I feel is in regard to the health issues.

For me, breastfeeding is a time precious to mother and child.

Yes, wet-nurses serve a purpose - but surely that purpose should only ever be with consent and after proper health checks have been carried out... not because the other woman felt it was inappropriate to disturb the mother (who in this case was taking a telephone call in the next room)?

Would you wet-nurse? Would you be happy to let another family member or friend wet-nurse your baby? Would you insist on health tests first?

I'd love your opinions on this one.