Other People's Breast Milk

Coming soon on 9th September on channel 4 at 10pm is a programme about the benefits of breast feeding and women who share the breast feeding of their children with other lactating women.

I believe that every baby has the right to drink human milk and that the breast milk of another woman is always preferable to the milk of an animal.

I have breast fed my friend's daughter and she has breast fed my children. Two other friends of mine have also breast fed my children when the situation has arisen.

The programme will explore this sometimes controversial issue.

My friend Sybille tandem feeding her daughter Lily, 19 months, and my son Yanny, 12 months

Comments Following The Airing Of Other People's Breast Milk

I was pleased that this programme may have caused women to think about breast feeding when they may have formula fed, and glad that producer Kate Garraway had become more open minded about breast feeding and cross breast feeding, however, my contribution to the programme was misrepresented in some parts:

1. It was heavily edited - all of my comments on the dangers of formula milk were cut out.

2. Kate Garraway stated I stopped breast feeding my daughter at 5 weeks. This was untrue. I paused the breast feeding for two days whilst in hospital and during this time my friend cross breast fed her. After this two days I resumed breast feeding. We then shared breast feeding my daughter till she was 5 months old. Then my friend quit, after which time I continued to breast feed her until she was 3 and a half years. I would never quit something as important as breast feeding at 5 weeks.

3. My daughter was 6 weeks old when she first cross-fed, not 5 weeks as in the documentary.

4. The scene where we 'swapped' babies was done on the producers request as they had not found many women willing to cross feed on TV. My son was not initially very happy at being stopped from breast feeding half way through, hence my remark it was cruel. I did agree to it, though, because they wanted to show cross feeding in the documentary. In normal circumstances, I would not be present when my friend feeds my child.
Cross feeding has only been done by either of us when a genuine out of the ordinary need has arisen and we don't cross feed as a 'lifestyle choice' (as some media have incorrectly said), merely when circumstances have occured that we think require it. It is not something that is done on a daily basis but something that we have done every now and then because we believe breast milk is far better than formula.

I wanted to share these facts so that people have a true impression of how passionately I feel about breast feeding.

I am still very glad I took part in the making of this programme if it will help expand other's minds and encourage more women to breast feed, or to show those women who are going through rough times like I was and can't physically express milk, that there is another option other than formula milk.

I would like to thank GMTV for the sensitive way they handled my story and for the accuracy of the way we were portrayed. Special thanks to Lorraine Kelly for giving my daughter a mention on the programme and for the photograph - you really made her day!

Support From NCT regarding cross-breast feeding

We promote breastfeeding and this includes wet-nursing or cross-feeding, as the practice of breastfeeding another woman’s baby, is known or the use of milk banks.

Wet-nursing isn’t common in the UK but some women do informally feed other women’s babies. It does make some people feel uncomfortable – this could have something to do with lack of familiarity, or with issues around intimacy with another woman’s baby; some mothers may feel that breastfeeding is a special relationship between her and her baby only. There is no legal reason however why women who wish to cross feed or use a wet nurse cannot do so and the NCT believes that women who set up an agreement between themselves to do this should be supported in their decision.

A mother whose baby is latching on well and who is breastfeeding responsively will generally be able to produce enough milk to nourish two, three or more babies. The NCT believes that wet-nursing can be a way for women who, for whatever reason, do not breastfeed their babies to give them breastmilk rather than using formula milk. Well-documented research has shown that breastmilk protects from infections and diseases and promotes babies’ growth. Breastmilk also protects babies’ future health as it is associated with a lower risk of obesity, allergies and diabetes.

Another opportunity for babies to have another mother’s milk is through human milk banks. A number of milk banks operate in the UK; however the breastmilk donated to these banks is exclusively used for premature or sick babies as these babies need it most. Milk banks screen the donating mothers milk for infections such as hepatitis and HIV and pasteurise the milk.

NCT has called for a network of milk banks in the UK so every baby without access to their own mother’s milk can benefit. We encourage women who support them and wish to donate milk and give them information to do so.

NCT Press release, 11th September 2008.

See Us At The London Vegan Festival!

This September 7th 2008 we will be running a vaccine and breast feeding information and book stall at Kensington Town Hall from 11am till 5pm.

Vegan Festival Pictures 2008 Coming Soon!