Pretty awesome photo in TIME

[Romana]

This is an old article (from '07) but I ran into it today and I thought the photo was pretty great. It's a 13 month old nursing! Nice to see that front and center.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...-inline-bottom

The article is interesting, too. Apparently wet nurses for the wealthy make $1000-2000/week. While I think that it's best if the mother breastfeed her own baby, if you honestly aren't going to do that, I do think hiring a wet nurse is better than formula feeding. I also think that it IS a truly supportive community thing for women to help nurse each others' babies when needed. If I left my baby with a friend and had an emergency, I have a freezer full of breastmilk and my baby uses a bottle frequently (breastmilk only). But if my baby was a bottle-refuser and I was hospitalized or something and my baby needed to nurse, I would totally want a sister or trusted friend to nurse him until I could again. It's seems really out of whack to me for anyone to think that nursing another woman's baby is somehow pedophilia. WTH is sexual about nursing a baby, whether it's mine or my best friend's?

Anyway, enjoy the photo.

[menomena]

Even the pro-nursing group La Leche League has concerns about milk sharing because, in addition to helpful immunities and antibodies, viruses can be passed through breast milk.

@ "pro-nursing group LLL". I don't know, I thought that was amusing. For the record, LLL as an organization doesn't recommend cross-nursing b/c of liability. Many, many Leaders are pro cross-nursing and milk-sharing.

The picture is GREAT, though, thanks.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Nice article!

I went back to work when DD was 7 mo, and my sister kept DD often until she was 1 yo. She had her own 2 mo DD at the time, so after she'd feed her babe, DD started latching onto her. Both loved it! DD has a strong bond w/ her aunt is super healthy from all the 'extra' immunities. And DD and DN have grown up so close because they're "milk" sisters.

[JessasMilkMama]

for $1000 a week i think i will keep up my suppy and apply to be a wet nurse!

[Romana]

Originally Posted by JessasMilkMama

for $1000 a week i think i will keep up my suppy and apply to be a wet nurse!

LOL My thoughts exactly!

[kilamonster]

Originally Posted by JessasMilkMama

for $1000 a week i think i will keep up my suppy and apply to be a wet nurse!

[CorasMama]

No kidding! And it sounds like wet nurses don't also do the nanny's job, so that's really great!

I'd love to get $50K a year to nurse a babe!

I wonder if it's just a 5-day a week, 8-5 kind of thing, or if it is more about pumping, or what...

[Kappa]

I want to be a wet nurse! I did not know US women still hired wet nurses, I thought the rich/fabulous purchased donated breast milk if necessary.

[Theoretica]

OMG I would totally do this for 50K a year...I mean, I already do it now for FREE

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by Kappa

I want to be a wet nurse! I did not know US women still hired wet nurses, I thought the rich/fabulous purchased donated breast milk if necessary.

:

[Miasmamma]

I would like to know what agency to go through! I think my DH would be all over this!

[kriket]

I guess if you are rich and fabulous enough you could either a) buy breastmilk AND a person to feed the bottle or b) hire a wet nurse.

You know if you are fabulous enough to not worry about 2k a week, you're too fabulous to bottle feed.

[BnInTheOvn]

I plan to ad "$50k a year for breastfeeding" to my "you couldnt afford me if you had to pay me" list of things for Adam... once in a while he needs a small reminder. heh

[Romana]

Originally Posted by Miasmamma

I would like to know what agency to go through! I think my DH would be all over this!

It's in the article!

[cjuniverse]

Communal nursing is completely natural, and makes perfect sense. How screwed up as a species/culture have we become to find it somehow wrong or bad?

People are so completely freaking messed in the head about nursing these days (for the record, a friend of my ex-husband's nursed Ryo when he was around a year old or so. Didn't even know her that well, either! Scandalous!).

*shakes head*

Anyway, awesome picture.

[pearl2]

This sure would beat trying to teach an online class, that's for sure!!

[Kappa]

I actually filled out an online profile for staffing as a wet nurse with the agency. I do not know if I will receive any hits as I am not going to move to another city, or be a live-in wet nurse, but I'll post back about the agency if they get in communication with me. I would think living in might be part of the deal if you are a wet nurse. If some one wanted me to mostly EP for them, that would be ideal, I am no where near ready to wean my 10 mo old.

[~Boudicca~]

Oh, I want that job!

And that picture was sweet.

[VOBetz]

Very cute picture. I'm not sure I would want to take that much time away from my family to do that. Although, I'm not sure of the logistics either.