Wet nursing

[thussain]

Is it legal to be a wet nurse in the UK?

[undercovers]

though it can't be very common it is not illegal - just out of interest, why do you ask?

[mackab24]

hi can i ask what is wet nursing? i have never heard of it

[Claire6272]

Hi Mackab24

wet nursing is when a milk producing woman feeds anothers baby

[spudqueen]

mackab24 - it was very popular in 'olden' days for rich women to employ wet nurses. These wet nurses may have lost their own baby at birth or shortly afterwards.

[undercovers]

though there is no need for them to have lost their baby - rather they just carry on supplying milk after their own baby has been weened, the human body will keep producing until the supply is no longer required

[thussain]

OK, undercovers, why was I asking?

Drunken evening with friends discussing (amongst other things obviously) how it would possible to raise a child with the least amount of effort. (My husband wants a third kid but I'm happy with our 2). I believe "breast is best" so someone suggested wet nursing. Someone else said it was illegal. I said it wasn't. Discussion ensued so internet was accessed. We were unable to find a definitive answer so, being a fan of answerbank, I decided to ask the populous.

Does that satisfy your interest? No, I wasn't looking for a job or an employee!!

[secretspirit]

There are 'milk banks' where you can donate milk to go to premature babies whose mothers can't breastfeed so I guess it's not illegal :-) but I shouldn't think it's easy to get hold of. I wouldn't be keen on my daughter having someone else's milk.