Two mums explain why they breastfeed each others babies
When Becky and Holly became friends as teenagers, they had no idea they'd one day end up breastfeeding each other's children.
The two women first met when Becky started dating Holly's brother, now her husband, and remained friends over the years, even working together at Becky's PR firm.
"We forged a relationship, a friendship," mum-of-seven Becky explained during an interview with This Morning yesterday (9 September). "[Then] sisters-in-law, and much later on I asked Holly to work with me on my PR company... So basically, working partners and sisters-in-law."
However, the women's relationship didn't evolve until a day out in London's Battersea Park, when Becky was minding Holly's son Freddie while she was out on a pedalo.
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"He started crying, and [Becky] WhatsApped me asking what to do, and I was like ‘feed him’," Holly explained, adding that breastfeeding each other's children later became a 'convenience thing' for each other.
Explaining her reaction to Holly's request, Becky explained that she hadn't been fazed by the thought of breastfeeding another woman's child, despite initial fears that she may have been 'overstepping the mark'.
"Secretly, I wanted her to offer to say [to do it]," She explained. "When you’re in the breastfeeding zone, everything changes.
"It felt a natural thing to do, it didn't feel odd."
"Milk is milk. When you open the fridge and have cow's milk, you don't think twice."
The two mothers' unconventional approach to breastfeeding each other's children has been met with raised eyebrows and questions over the years, however it's not something they're particularly bothered about.
"I just ignore it," Holly said. "Milk is milk. When you open the fridge and have cow's milk you don't think twice, do you?
"Back in the day, people obviously had wet nurses," she continued. "It's a funny one, it's kind of ruffled a few feathers."
"The more you talk about it, the more people actually have a story," Becky added. "There are stories in the days of yore where it was much more natural."
Weighing in on the situation from a medical standpoint, This Morning's Dr Zoe explained that while it wouldn't be a recommended practice for someone to breastfeed a stranger's baby due to the risk of infection, it's not out of the ordinary for a baby to have breastmilk which hasn't come from their mother.
"In this particular scenario, I can see how this has made sense," Dr Zoe explained. "Historically, wet nursing was something which was very common... As we know, not every woman can breastfeed their baby, so before we had formulas that were nutritionally complete, that was something that was necessary."
She added that breast milk banks also supply vital nutrition to premature or sick infants in hospitals, which involves screening donated milk for infections before giving it to baby units.
For Becky and Holly, being able to breastfeed each other's babies has allowed them to easily look after the other's children, joking that they wouldn't need to pack bottles when dropping their child off.
What does the NHS say about shared breastfeeding?
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the NHS told The Morning: "There's no NHS guidance on shared breastfeeding... The risks associated with shared breastfeeding are relatively low if guidance for breastfeeding mothers and safe breastfeeding for medical conditions, use of medications, alcohol and drugs is followed."
Brenna Cooper