I thought the story was amazing! It also reminded me of a question
that we've been talking about on LACTNET recently - whether EBM in a
bottle is better than formula-feeding at the breast; or whether the
act of breastfeeding may be even more valuable than the milk. My
personal take on this is that the milk, rather than the method of
delivery is the most important issue. However, the report of this
baby being actually breastfed by 20 women giving their time and
breasts on a roster could add to our debate; the baby is receiving
breastmilk, at the breast, by so many different 'mothers'. He's
receiving all the lovely things that breastfeeding brings, the
holding, touching, smiles, oral norms (albeit from 40 differently
shaped nipples and breasts) as well as the varied milk from 40
different breasts. Intuitively I think we would have to believe that
this experience for the baby is superior to receiving EBM from a
bottle. Although he receives that too - from Dad, during the
nights. So in this particular case, it's definitely _not_ just about
the milk. And perhaps this little chap's experience may serve to
teach us more?
I am reminded of the Indian mothers I used to visit - only the mother
would breastfeed, but there would be the maternal grandmother, all
the sisters, and the sisters-in-law all taking care of the baby for
little bunches of time - the baby was the newest member of the
family, and enjoyed and nurtured by all. At the end of the first 40
days the mother would go back with the baby to her husband's family,
and then the baby would be exposed to a whole new set of female
nurturers. The babies were very loved, and as toddlers even seemed
to be very "spoiled". But I also observed that they always grew into
very gentle people.
Of course the baby in the article is not receiving the optimal care -
his mother has died, making him extremely vulnerable indeed. IN
developing countries, the survival of children who have lost their
mothers is extremely compromised. But the one "constant" caretaker
for this baby would be his father, and he seems to have organized a
way to ensure that his baby will not only survive, but
thrive. Presumably the baby will have already felt safe and nurtured
and fulfilled and at home with all these different generous women
even by the time that he realizes that they _are_ different.
Pamela Morrison IBCLC
Rustington, England
---------------------------------------------------
> When a baby is unable to be breastfed by his mother, for whatever reason,
> the next best thing would be wet nursing by someone who was constant and
> responsive and loving. The next best thing after that would be expressed
> breastmilk, given in a bottle, by the constant, responsive and loving
> person....*not* a succession of different people feeding to a schedule.
>
> So while community support is something to celebrate, lets not pretend that
> this baby is somehow getting anything like what he would have got if his
> mother was feeding him, or that what's happening now is better than a bottle
> of ebm. Because it really isn't.
>
> Making breastfeeding solely 'about the milk' and not about the relationship
> it enhances (and the foundation for future relationships) makes it possible
> for employment conditions which 'allow' 6-week postnatal women to bring
> their pumps to work ....and for these conditions to be lauded as 'supporting
> breastfeeding'.
>
> Breastfeeding is not just about the milk.
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