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Grandmother “ dry-nursing” grandchild?

(39 Posts)
Daddima Mon 18-Dec-17 12:59:41

Not for me, thanks!

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/family-kids/grandmas-decision-dry-nurse-baby-11712091

I don’t know if I’d feel differently if it was my daughter’s child, but don’t think so.

Nelliemoser Wed 20-Dec-17 19:33:00

It is the Daily Record.
I would have thought dry nursing could be very uncomfortable for the person nursing even small babies have very strong sucks .
It would not have worried me feeding somone else's small baby I had plenty of milk and exported it to a milk bank.

Lona Wed 20-Dec-17 22:39:00

I think it's natural to soothe any baby in distress by breastfeeding and I certainly would do it.
Rather that than change a mucky nappy! ?

WilmaKnickersfit Thu 21-Dec-17 00:18:39

I don't see the problem with this and they're just lucky they can do it. I'm pretty sure it's common in many countries, although perhaps not in the West. I understand that in the US adoptive mothers who want to breastfeed are encouraged by their paediatrician. They have to start the preparations before they get the baby and they may have to supplement breast milk with bottles.

Witzend Thu 21-Dec-17 09:34:59

I wonder what some of you would think of this story - I heard it on the radio years ago.

It was told in person, by an elderly woman who'd been completely snowed in, I think during WW2, with a very young baby - her breast milk had failed and she had nothing else to give the baby.

However, she had a German Shepherd dog that had recently had puppies. In desperation she put the baby to the dog, who was quite happy to oblige, and apparently it worked well enough until she was able to get out again. Understandably her memories of that dog were more overwhelmingly loving than they would have been anyway.

Luckylegs9 Thu 21-Dec-17 17:30:26

She and I would definitely part company. What's the matter with a dummy, find it creepy, perhaps the whole family are.

mizzmelli Fri 22-Dec-17 04:30:03

Sorry I think its odd, there is other ways to soothe a baby rather than Grandma putting it to her breast! eeewk!

theretheredear Sun 24-Dec-17 18:13:16

I have no issue with a baby being nursed by anyone for comfort.

I do think its a sad reflection upon our society, who seem to have forgotten the reason women have breasts...

Breasts have one function.. . to feed babies!

NotAGran55 Sun 24-Dec-17 21:56:38

I have no problem with it and would do it myself . It's a darn site better IMO than a dummy or a bottle of formula .
I fed my 2 for 2 years which was the WHO advice at the time and would have happily helped out if needed by another mum/baby.

Bluegal Tue 26-Dec-17 19:36:15

Witzend ....I think that story is wonderful. And if any mother says she wouldn't try anything to feed her starving baby she would be lying. I personally, don't find the original story horrendous either. Its nothing I have done but if it pacified a screaming baby...why not?

NannyTee Tue 26-Dec-17 19:42:05

Me too BlueBelle

knickas63 Wed 10-Jan-18 13:56:37

Although I never followed through and did this - the instinct was still there for me when I looked after my first grandchild. This was 16 years after I finished feeding my youngest! I think the instict to feed/comfort is very strong.

lemongrove Wed 10-Jan-18 14:26:41

She is a very young grandmother with a baby of her own.
I would say that if her daughter didn’t/doesn’t mind and it helps ,then so what? They are all closely related, in a ‘tribal’
Situation I doubt anyone would mind, so is it because this is a ‘civilised’ situation that makes people say yuk?

Lisalou Sat 13-Jan-18 09:04:48

i find nothing wrong with this. It is a modern concept that a baby should only be fed by his or her mother - as has been said by many already.

I remember when my son (second child was born) that there was a first time mum on the ward who was having terrible trouble as her milk wasn't coming in and baby was screaming and miserable. The nurses kept putting the baby on the breast, until poor mum started to bleed.
I was always lucky in that my milk started coming in just before baby was born so I never had a problem. I would have happily nursed the poor baby, but didn't dare offer. . I was still young and quite shy at the time. with hindsight, I would feel no such qualms now, and would offer to help. How it would go down, I don't know.