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I think she was charged with the public decency law because they didn't HAVE any other law against it. So it'll be thrown out of court because it's too much of a stretch.

She put the infant at risk of getting any diseases she might have--but those can be tested for. If she's healthy, this is definitely a non-crime, just a nasty invasion of the mother's rights--which she had partially abrogated anyway. If she has HIV or something, good grief, what a mess.

Norse, a woman who delivers a baby produces colostrum for a couple of days--in fact, she begins producing it sometime toward the end of the second trimester, though she may not notice. Then the milk comes in. Boy does it come in. If she's not nursing, or not nursing often enough, for whatever reason, her body will eventually realize that and stop producing milk, but if the baby nurses well, the milk production regulates itself to the baby's needs. Most women can easily produce enough for twins, even if they are not very large-breasted. Sometime after the baby is weaned, production tapers off, but can easily be brought back for some time, making it possible for orphans to be fed by wet nurses.

Women who adopt can sometimes trigger milk production and nurse their adopted babies, even if they never had a baby themselves. They sell gadgets for that, to supplement with formula while encouraging the baby to nurse--baby never needs to take a bottle. Looks pretty cumbersome to me.

I babysat a very young infant once who would not take a bottle. For hours and hours I struggled with her--her mother was at the ER. Finally I made her THINK I was going to breast feed her, and slipped the bottle in there. Ha. Fooled the colicky little wretch. She was precious. But I wouldn't have PRESUMED to actually nurse another person's child, even though I could, at that time. Most of us know better, but I'm not sure why! It's sort of like kissing someone else's husband. Most of us see the line and don't cross it!

Hope that helps.

"I babysat a very young infant once who would not take a bottle. For hours and hours I struggled with her--her mother was at the ER. Finally I made her THINK I was going to breast feed her, and slipped the bottle in there. Ha. Fooled the colicky little wretch. She was precious. But I wouldn't have PRESUMED to actually nurse another person's child, even though I could, at that time. Most of us know better, but I'm not sure why! It's sort of like kissing someone else's husband. Most of us see the line and don't cross it! "

I agree with you there 100% I know a lady once who kept her neice's 7-8mth old overnight because the couple needed a night out and a night alone. The baby was breastfed and cried for hours because it wanted to breastfeed rather than take a bottle. The woman knew the couple really needed some alone time so she kept it through the night anyway and the baby finally fell asleep in bed with her. She awoke during the night with an odd feeling and looked down. The baby had pulled open her nightshirt and was just sucking away happy as could be even though there was no milk. SHe said she just let the baby do what it needed to comfort itself and it slept the rest of the night with no more crying. She told her neice about it when she picked up the baby the next day and her neice was fine with it. She told me how shocked she was when she woke up to that but she wasn't sure what else to do once it had already started. Fortunately her neice understood and was cool with it. Personally I was more shocked that she actually told the story to other people! LOL My mom was totally grossed out by it. She never breastfed though so I'm not sure she understands the level of comfort it brings the baby. I've breastfed both of mine and never could leave my son with anyone long enough to skip a feeding until he was weaned and haven't been able to leave my daughter with anyone yet either longer than a couple of hours (she's 7mth old.) Any mother who breastfeeds should know better than to leave a child with a stranger (or anyone for that matter) and expect them to figure out a way to feed them if the baby isn't use to a bottle.