Abimbola Photo: Sun News Publishing

Mores Stories on This Section

Tosin Ajayi
Of course, I can breastfeed another woman’s baby. It goes without saying though that I would have been a mother by then. For a lady who is yet to have a baby, she would be wasting her time because nothing would come out. I know what I am talking about because I know a lady has tried it and the outcome. The mother of the child in question died and another woman took up the responsibility of breastfeeding it. What matters is that the baby is in dire need of breast milk. The baby’s mother doesn’t necessarily have to be somebody I know. The child’s survival is what really matters. That’s it.

Ifeoma Matthew
Yes, I can breastfeed another woman’s baby but on extreme condition: such as if the child’s mother is no more. Not only that, the woman whose child I’m going to breastfeed has to be a relation or friend. Mind you I’ve not done it before, so I don’t know what it’ll feel like. But if at any point in time, I start feeling somehow about the whole scenario, I’ll discontinue.

Rita
It depends on the circumstances. If the person is a close relation of someone or probably mine very close and is either dead or in a critical condition, I might help. I can’t do it for a friend no matter how close we are. I’ve done it before though nothing came out (laughter). I guess it’s because I haven’t had a baby before but it was a memorable experience.

Abimbola Oriola
Yes, I can do it but only under certain conditions. First, if the child’s mother is dead, I think it’s only fair for me to help save the baby. Secondly, I can do it if the baby is seriously lacking or in a place like orphanage. It can be just any baby as long as I’m not at risk of picking up infection. I’ll just keep an open mind and do it knowing quite well that one day, I’m going to become a mother myself.

Uduak Bassey
Funny guy! Well, if I am a mother already I might consider doing it in the interest of the baby. But my dear, not at this stage that I am still a young girl (laughter). Of course, you know the implication of offering your breast to be sucked. You say you don’t know? Ah (laughter again), you should know now; the tendency to arouse someone and make her want to misbehave (more laughter). At the end of the day, no show!

Sunmoni Abiola
Yes, I can do it. What I’m going to put into consideration is why I have to do it. But I can only do that if the woman we’re talking about is no more. As long as the baby’s mother is alive and kicking, I don’t think I can do it. I might feel odd doing it but I’ll go on and do it as long as it all the same.

Blessing Mumuni
As for me, I can’t do it. Why should I? I can’t do it because besides reading medical articles on it, I was also told that it has side effects on those babies. I was told such children don’t speak well as they grow up. To be candid, I even learnt that it’s sometimes so bad that the bay ends up stammering as he/she grows older and begins to speak. For that reason, I won’t do it because I don’t want to be party to the problems of the baby in the future. I wouldn’t want to do anything that will have a negative effect on the baby.

Labake Adetunji
I can do it because I feel by doing it; I’m offering help to the mother who can’t breastfeed her baby. As long as I’m convinced that the baby really needs it, I will. The mother doesn’t have to be dead for me to do it. I see it as humanitarian service. Who knows; the child’s mother might even be in a critical condition. I expect that under normal circumstances, every mother should be able to breastfeed her baby. Since she can’t do it, there must be something seriously wrong somewhere. So, filling that void for the baby would be my pleasure, honestly.

Olatunbosun Adeola
I can do it only if the mother of the child is no more. If, however, for any reason, the child’s mother is still alive, I don’t think I can oblige. I’m a very principled person; my yes is yes and my no is no. If the baby still has a mother alive, I won’t breastfeed the baby. Why should I?

Caroline Oginni
If I’m touched by the plight of the baby, I can do it. Of course, there are only some special circumstances that would warrant a woman breastfeeding another woman’s baby. For instance, if the baby’s mother is dead or she’s terminally ill, I can do it to save the child. I once attended a seminar where we were told that in cases where the child’s mother is HIV positive, the baby could be breastfed by another woman. In a case like that, I’ll simply do what my conscience tells me – and that is to help.

Temitope Onifade
Ah! Where do you usually get these crazy questions from? Seriously, I can only do a thing like that if the baby’s condition is very critical and I’m the only one available to offer such help. If I must do it, then I’ll do it voluntarily. As long as I’m convinced that offering my breast milk will not affect the baby, I will. As a prospective mother, I will follow my instincts.