I breastfeed my sister’s baby when she needs some time out – people say it’s ‘weird’ but it should be the norm

A mother-of-three has divided opinion after revealing she is breastfeeding her niece to give her sister a ‘break’.

Emily Boazman, from the US, is close to her sister Katelyn and tries to help with the newborn in any way she can.

But she caused a stir on TikTok after sharing videos of herself nursing her niece while Katelyn took time for herself.

“I share these videos in the hope that it will help normalize breastfeeding of other people’s babies,” Ms Boazman told FEMAIL.

“It was a common practice for many years and it should not be looked down upon.”

Hundreds of women on TikTok praised the “generous” and “beautiful” act, with many saying they have also breastfed other babies. But others disagreed, with some describing it as ‘weird’

‘This used to be such a normal part of the culture. Now it’s considered weird. It really ‘takes a village’ and I think it’s so special to be able to feed my niece.’

The video shows Ms. Boazman breastfeeding her niece while her sister is having breakfast in the background.

Hundreds of women praised the “generous” and “beautiful” act, with many saying they had also breastfed other babies.

“I absolutely love this,” one wrote, while another said: “I nursed my sister’s baby when she couldn’t.”

Someone else added: ‘Wet breastfeeding is normal. It’s part of the whole of a village, we used to all be together.’

But others disagreed, with some describing it as ‘weird’.

‘My jealousy would never allow this. that kind of bonding is very special,” one wrote.

‘I don’t know, my jealousy would never allow this. Such a bond is very special,” says another.

“Strange AF for me, I would never let anyone nurse my baby,” someone else wrote.

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, breast milk from another mother is the ‘next best option’ when additional milk is needed

In another video, Ms. Boazman explained that Katelyn did that C.diff – also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile – this is a type of germ that can cause diarrhea and colitis.

‘When she had her twins, she didn’t have a good breastfeeding experience. She didn’t make any milk, it was just horrible,” she said.

Both sisters took beef liver to help her milk production and avoid switching to bottle feeding.

Ms Boazman said her sister was “barely able to open her eyes” for five days, so she stepped in to care for the babies.

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Associationbreast milk from another mother is the ‘next best option’ when extra milk is needed.

“In Australia, donor breast milk can be offered to premature or very ill babies in hospitals linked to a milk bank,” the website says.

‘Donor milk is offered to premature and very sick babies in hospitals that have a milk bank, if the mother is unable to produce sufficient breast milk herself.

‘In other situations, parents can obtain donor milk informally, sometimes through milk sharing groups on social media.’