Pump Requirement for Wet Nursing Clients?

[Vinman]

I have a choice between two local women who do Wet Nursing for clients. One has a 5 month old and will not require me to buy a pump. The other one has an 8 year old and a 2 year old and she is insisting that I get a breast pump to use during our sessions, at a cost to me of around $350. She is concerned about “backflow”, which could cause a nursing child to stop nursing.

Would love to hear some opinions on this. So far I’m leaning toward the “pump free” Mom of the 5 month old even though she’s more expensive.

Any thoughts?

[Yogi]

“Backflow” (or “backwash”) occurs during breastfeeding, including with a two-year-old, where saliva from the child’s mouth is sucked back into the nipple and mammary ducts. This phenomenon, known as retrograde duct flow, is a beneficial biological process that allows the mother’s body to detect pathogens, triggering an immune response to produce customized antibodies in the milk to help the child recover.
International Milk Genomics Consortium
International Milk Genomics Consortium
+5
Key Aspects of Backflow/Backwash:
Mechanism: When a child suckles, the vacuum created can draw saliva and microorganisms from the mouth back into the breast.
Immune Response: The mother’s breast acts as a sensor, detecting the child’s illness via saliva and increasing leukocytes (white blood cells) to combat it.
Benefits: This process helps fight infections and provides targeted protection for the child, even at the toddler stage.
Commonality: While often discussed with infants, this mechanism is a natural part of nursing and persists as long as breastfeeding continues.
International Milk Genomics Consortium
International Milk Genomics Consortium
+4
This biological interaction is often considered a way the body facilitates healing when a nursing child is sick.

The above response came from AI: I suspect the mother of the two year old wants to prevent her breast milk from including either pathogens or immune response to pass to her baby from the suckling you are doing. If that is the case, then her pumping after nursing you would be appropriate. However, most nursing mothers also have pumps they have used throughout their mothering journey, to accommodate an absence or an illness. So I would question why she doesn’t already have a pump…and why would it be necessary to purchase her one if you are paying her for the nursing, and this is an expense of doing business?

[Yogi]

Continued from above. With this mother, does she nurse anyone else for money or are you her only client? If she is doing this as a cottage industry, then you might want to make sure that she is pumping after nursing every client…both to protect you, her other clients, and her own child. If she has multiple nursing clients, then the cost of the pump would definitely not be yours to bare. Her belief that “back flow” will cause a child to stop nursing, does not seem, by my research, to be a legitimate concern.

[Anonymous]

I am not familiar with this backflow concept, but it is a very supportive gesture to buy a pump and show support. And being able to pump while you are not there will only increase her supply for you. It would make me feel more inspired to nurse you. Either way, it sounds like you already made your decision.

[🌸🌸]

A generous person with a big heart often generates a generous outcome that can’t be weighed with ROI. $350 is not a lot of money. Go with your heart and spend what it takes.

[MizzLizz]

Hey
I thought you had already settled this conundrum. Pretty sure we all had lost of comments on what you had asked.

[Vinman]

Liz, this question is specifically to get opinions on the necessity of the male ANR partner having a pump in addition to the woman having one.

Yogi, thank you for your very detailed response and thanks to the others who chimed in as well.

[MizzLizz]

Again as I said previously
Idk know that it’s a “necessity” but if that is what her terms are than you just need to decide if you want to get the pump or not.
If the answer is no that’s fine just keep searching if answer is yes then get it and set up your session.

I think people tend to forget that life is full of choices.

[MatureAZmaleLatch]

Just my 2 cents… and thank you all for educating me about the above.

I have restored dozens of hospital grade pumps manufactured over the last 60 years. The earlier they are (1950 – 1980) the tougher they are. They can be easily purchased for $125 to $150 on Ebay. They are easily serviced from Medelas to Egnells. Right now there are 12 Medelas for sale for $74 each, shipping included! That is ridiculously low price! Remember, these pumps all have secondary vacuum isolation circuits, to prevent cross contamination, and were hospital use pumps. I hope they find good homes!

Me? I would gladly supply a woman with a different pump for each day of the week if she was my partner. ABR/ABF women should be cherished for their commitment and the way they are wired. Now, don’t let that go to your head, ladies. 🙏🏼🫡

[Rumina]

Thanks @matureazmalelatch for your support towards women!
Thats a special hobby, to restore those pumps. Never heard of it before

[Author]

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