A 33-year-old woman from New Mexico has been proudly breastfeeding her sister’s baby.
Emily Boazman, a stay-at-home mom, believes that this act of maternal solidarity is neither “weird” nor “disgusting,” but rather a natural extension of the close relationship she has with her sister.
The unusual practice began when Katelyn, Emily’s sister, fell ill just a month after giving birth to her baby, Kyan.
Boazman, who was still nursing her own son Keen, seized the opportunity to offer her support by breastfeeding Kyan while babysitting or during hospital visits.
This wasn’t the first time Boazman had stepped in to help with breastfeeding; she had previously nursed Katelyn’s twins, NavyKate and Grey, when her sister struggled with milk supply issues in 2017.
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While some may find the practice unconventional, Boazman sees historical precedent in the concept of wet nurses and questions when breastfeeding became a taboo subject.
She said: “It was the norm hundreds of years ago – we had wet nurses. It’s looked at as weird when it was the most natural thing. It’s just feeding a baby.”
Despite initial reservations from their husbands, Boazman’s husband, Jake, and Katelyn’s husband, Mike, have grown accustomed to the practice.
The families are currently living together while undergoing home renovations, making it convenient for Boazman to assist with breastfeeding.
Emily Boazman hopes to normalise the idea of nursing other people’s babies, emphasizing the need for open conversations about such practices. She says: “I hope it becomes normal. I think so many people have done it but feel afraid to talk about it.”
