Salma Hayek Breastfeeding an African Baby Boy

I just LOVE this story about Salma Hayek breastfeeding a little boy on her trip to Africa. People are so weirded out by the very idea of women breastfeeding a baby that isn't theirs but that seems so ridiculous to me for a million and one reasons. Human milk is meant for humans, yet we are not at all weirded out by giving our child the milk intended for a baby calf :-S GO SALMA, you're an inspiration to us all!



I had the unforgettable experience of helping a friend with her baby by taking over a couple of nursing sessions a day while she worked with a qualified lactation consultant to figure out a bad latch. It was a very special time that I hold dear because it was the one time in my life where I really felt like I was helping in a meaningful and practical way. That baby is over a year old now and still continues to nurse at his loving (and determined) mothers breast. I received quite a bit of criticism for nursing her baby, I heard everything from, "She needs to do it herself!" to "That's something *I* could never do!" but you know what??? Is it not better that this mother was willing to allow me to help her, which resulted in a positive outcome btw, rather than her resorting to formula and giving up as so many do?! What incredible strength on her part to not give in to everyone and thier mother instilling seeds of doubt about whether or not she could produce enough milk!

Apparently in China it is not uncommon at all for babies to be breastfed by several different mothers. I imagine there is an incredible amount of support and trust that those women feel for each other when they have their babies and share this responsibility. Personally, I would not feel at all comfortable allowing another mother to nurse my child if I was physically present and able to do it myself (I'm very mama-bear when it comes to my little ones). But if I was faced with a situation where I couldn't be with my child, like when I had my appendix removed 8 weeks after my first child was born, I would certainly prefer a nursing mother help me through it rather than give my child formula. It just seems totally logical to me that this would protect my ability to breastfeed as much as possible as well as provide the best food for baby.