Two young mums who breastfeed each other's children say "it's natural"

Two young mothers who breastfeed each other’s children are encouraging other women to share their milk.

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Stefani Tatavitto, 23, from Connecticut, breastfeeds her own two-year-old son and helps out her friend Chrystal Klein by caring for, and feeding, her 19-month-old daughter while Chrystal goes off to work.

Stefani said: “I don’t think it’s shocking to nurse another woman’s child – breastfeeding is natural.”

Image via Daily Mail

“I think it helps Ariana, it keeps her calm and helps her when she’s teething. It’s a big comfort and helps keep her settled.
If anyone has a problem with it I have not nice words to say to them.

“You drink breast milk from animals, it’s not that weird to drink breast milk from another human.

“I don’t care what anyone else has to say – we do what’s best for our families.”

Chrystal says she is happy for Stefani to continue feeding her daughter until Ariana weans.

Chrystal said: “Because of Stefani wet nursing I don’t need to pump milk for my daughter or worry about her not having any milk.

It also makes me feel better to know that my daughter still has that comfort even while I am away from her.”

Chrystal said: “I am not worried about my daughter becoming too attached to Stefani.

“I believe my daughter realises that I’m mommy and Stefani is just offering her milk.

“Whenever we are both with her and she wants milk, typically she will ask me to nurse.

“I would say there are no drawbacks. I only see positive from this.”

Stefani and Chrystal both realise that some will regard cross-feeding as controversial.

Chrystal said: “My family and friends don’t know that much about our wet nursing arrangements.

“When it comes to breastfeeding though my family is supportive with every decision I make.

“Some people might question it, because I know it’s not ordinary to wet nurse nowadays.

“They probably would just wonder why I would allow someone else to breastfeed my child.

“If anyone has ever brought up to me that if it’s unnatural that I allow someone else to wet-nurse my daughter, I would point out the fact that we drink milk from other animals.”

“We don’t know what’s going into their body.”

Chrystal said: “My partner was sceptical because she’s unsure about what Stefani is putting into her body. Not Stefani specifically but just anyone wet nursing her.”

“But we know Stefani has a pretty well diet and she doesn’t smoke or drink.”

‘We were both pregnant at the same time and we were tested for infections and both of us were clear.”

“The fact that Ariana is getting milk from the tap, I mean that’s exactly how we should drink it.”

Chrystal returns the favour if Stefani ever needs a night off.

Share your thoughts below.

26 Comments

- - madlac2 said
  - 26 Jan 2016
    11:41 am
Each to their own, I dont think its wrong by no means, but i dont think i could ever do this, i find breastfeeding to be a personal bonding time between bub and mum.

- - mom134803 said
  - 19 Jan 2016
    2:12 am
Respect for what they are doing !! I think it’s more strange we drink milk from a cow then these 2 lady helping each other by wet-nursing !!

- - mom101628 said
  - 17 Jan 2016
    5:28 pm
In the olden days rich people hired wet nurses to feed their children so they didn’t have to do so. Provided these two ladies do not have a problem with this arrangement I don’t think it’s any one else’s business.

- - Lori-Anne said
  - 14 Jan 2016
    8:32 am
Interesting… I like the idea but I have my reservations… I would still want to express my own milk as well to make sure my supply is kept up. These women have certainly put a lot of effort into investigating this option and made sure it was completely safe. Well done to them a pretty bold move.

- - mom156049 said
  - 04 Jan 2016
    8:39 pm
Each to their own – personally I wouldn’t do it but if they are comfortable with it then that’s their choice.

- - Lizbef said
  - 01 Jan 2016
    5:27 pm
Not something I would personally do but I bet it’s more common than we think

- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 30 Dec 2015
    11:59 am
I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that personally but if they’re happy with it then that’s their choice
- mom94125 replied
  
  09 Jan 2016 , 2:00 pm
  yes it is such a personal thing and a lot of people are not comfortable with it, and that is fair enough.
- - curlytops said
  - 29 Dec 2015
    9:34 pm
there are no rules for parenting so you do what you believe is best for your child.

- - pakeko said
  - 28 Dec 2015
    9:02 pm
What ever works for you and your child. Not for me

- - aprilb1 said
  - 26 Dec 2015
    12:32 pm
My dad said he’s two cousins used to do this with their babies, each to their own i guess!

- - Nas01 said
  - 06 Dec 2015
    4:39 pm
Each to their own, I personally wouldn’t do it but when it comes to breastfeeding and babies I think it’s up to the parents what they choose. I breadtfed all my kids and loved the connection that went along with it, so not sure how I would feel if they had that with someone else.

- - mom94125 said
  - 01 Dec 2015
    9:03 pm
yes they do have breast milk banks so i guess…..each to their own

- - mom94378 said
  - 30 Nov 2015
    10:10 pm
Touchy subject, excuse the pun. Not sure where i sit here, i’m thinking i don’t llike it unless it is reallt necessary but i guess you don’t know until you are in that situation.

- - linaianna said
  - 29 Nov 2015
    10:22 pm
I would never do it but every one to there own

- - Helen1981 said
  - 28 Nov 2015
    11:10 pm
I think its totally fine.

- - mom157657 said
  - 28 Nov 2015
    10:26 pm
36years ago a close girl friend and I had our babies a few weeks apart. Both babies were breastfed exclusively on demand and whenever we babysat for each other we fed which ever baby was hungry. Sometimes both often neither but we never had to worry that our little one would be hungry or missing a feed. As the babies got older if I fed her daughter & then mine was hungry later & my supply was short she would feed my daughter when she got home. Neither baby was ever confused about who Mummy was they really just saw the other mother as a babycarer who also had food handy. So go for it girls it is a great way to keep babies happy whether newborn or older. I would suggest however that if leaving a baby for long periods during work hours pumping is a good idea as otherwise you may find over time that your supply dwindles.Do not let any one judge you either in my day the greater majority of young mums thought breastfeeding your own baby was down right disgusting so standing up for yourselves as we did in those days will bring about changes.

- - mom74640 said
  - 28 Nov 2015
    11:14 am
Lke ns

- - mom61924 said
  - 28 Nov 2015
    9:42 am
Interesting.. Not something I would do, indeed we drink milk from animals but not actually right from the animal itself.
If it’s working great.

- - mom101628 said
  - 27 Nov 2015
    11:19 pm
Years ago the ‘elite’ or ‘rich’ hired wet nurses to feed their children when there was no such thing as ‘formula’ – if this is working for these two women who has the right to say it’s wrong. Good on them that they have found a way through to look after their children happily together.

- - robyn_smithwick said
  - 27 Nov 2015
    8:23 pm
I think this is a great idea!. Years ago way back in the late 1960’s when I started midwifery they used to pool breast milk and give it to babies whose mothers milk had not come in. It was only when AIDS reared its ugly head that it was stopped. This was a precautionary measure which was necessary. Good on those 2 mums. This way they both keep their milk supply going and think of the money they are saving on expensive formulae.
- cherz replied
  
  28 Nov 2015 , 7:57 pm
  Well said Robyn and I agree 100%.