Breastfeeding from 4 months

[GotMyHandsFull]

Bear with me. I'm pregnant and due in October. In June my sister is having a baby and through bad choices she has made with her life, the baby will be coming to live with me. My sister unfortunately will have no contact.

Something that is going through my mind, is the possibility of breastfeeding my niece once my milk comes in after I've given birth in October.

Is this something that I should consider? I would of course try and discuss it with my sister, but she isn't the most co-operative person.

Would it be wrong to breastfeeding another persons child? Would it be wrong to start after 4 months of my niece being on formula?

 

[nic2013]

Not sure about the ins and outs and practicalities of this - hope someone will be along soon who does - but just wanted to say I think it's really wonderful that you want to breastfeed your sister's child and not at all 'wrong'... what a fantastic way for you to bond with her (the baby) and for her to get extra nurturing after separating from her birth Mum. I truly hope you find a way to make this work. All the best

 

[Maud]

I agree; what a wonderful thing you are doing!

I would imagine you would need to wait until breastfeeding was well and truly established with your younger baby before letting the older one start to feed and to very gradually introduce the older baby to the breast so they don't affect the younger's feeding. I don't know how easy it'd be to introduce breastfeeding at an older age, but would think it would help if you bottle fed using one of the bottles aimed at combi-feeders.

Good luck

 

[GotMyHandsFull]

Hi thank you for your replies. I think I will speak to my midwife when I next see her.