This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "History and culture of breastfeeding" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
The history and culture of breastfeeding traces changing social, medical and legal attitudes to breastfeeding, the act of feeding a child breast milk directly from breast to mouth. Breastfeeding may be performed by the infant's mother or by a surrogate, typically called a wet nurse.
Breastfeeding is the natural means by which a baby receives nourishment. In most societies, women usually nurse their own babies, this being the most natural, convenient and cost-effective method of feeding a baby. However, there are situations when a mother cannot suckle her own baby. For example, she may have died, become unwell or otherwise cannot produce breast milk. Before the availability of infant formula, in those situations, unless a wet nurse was found promptly, the baby might die, and infant mortality rates were high. Wet nurses were a normal part of the social order, though social attitudes to wet nursing varied, as well as to the social status of the wet nurse. Breastfeeding itself began to be seen as common; too common to be done by royalty, even in ancient societies, and wet nurses were employed to breastfeed the children of royal families. This attitude extended over time, particularly in Western Europe, where babies of noble women were often nursed by wet nurses. Lower-class women breastfed their infants and used a wet nurse only if they were unable to feed their own infant.[1]
Attempts were made in 15th-century Europe to use cow or goat milk, but these attempts were not successful. In the 18th century, flour or cereal mixed with broth were introduced as substitutes for breastfeeding, but this was also unsuccessful. Improved infant formulas appeared in the mid-19th century, providing an alternative to wet nursing, and even breastfeeding itself.[1]
During the early 20th century, breastfeeding started to be viewed negatively, especially in Canada and the United States, where it was regarded as a low-class and uncultured practice.[2] The use of infant formulas increased, which accelerated after World War II. From the 1960s onwards, breastfeeding experienced a revival which continued into the 2000s, though negative attitudes towards breastfeeding were still entrenched up to the 1990s.[2]
^ abStevens, Emily E.; Patrick, Thelma E.; Pickler, Rita (2009). "A History of Infant Feeding". Journal of Perinatal Education. 18 (2): 32–9. doi:10.1624/105812409X426314. PMC 2684040. PMID 20190854.
^ abNathoo, Tasnim; Ostry, Aleck (2009). The One Best Way?: Breastfeeding History, Politics, and Policy in Canada. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. ISBN 978-1-55458-171-9.[page needed]
and 27 Related for: History and culture of breastfeeding information
and legal status ofbreastfeeding in public vary widely in cultures around the world. In many countries, both in the Global South and in a number of Western...
exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond...
portmanteau of "lactation" and "activism") is the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving a breastfeedingculture, sometimes...
arousal by breastfeeding on a woman's breast. Depending on the context, the practice can also be referred to as adult suckling, adult nursing, and adult breastfeeding...
subject. The suggested risks include pain while breastfeeding, reduced or diverted milk flow, and the infection of blocked lactiferous ducts. Inverted nipples...
Australian Breastfeeding Association's Breastfeeding Support Project." Other journalists and commentators also called the trial beneficial and an innovative...
Breastfeeding promotion refers to coordinated activities and policies to promote health among women, newborns and infants through breastfeeding. The World...
attitudes and laws regarding breastfeeding in public vary widely. In many countries, breastfeeding in public is common, legally protected, and generally...
"Guide to breastfeeding" (PDF). www.womenshealth.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2017-08-12. "Breastfeeding checklist:...
mother and the baby; Exclusive breastfeeding (ideally); Initiated in a hospital setting and can be continued at home; Allows for early discharge of the baby...
The historyof nudity involves social attitudes to nakedness of the human body in different cultures in history. The use of clothing to cover the body...
The historyof bras (brassières; variously pronounced) is closely tied to the social status of women, the evolution of fashion, and shifting views of the...
served with the military. Historyof nursing in the United Kingdom Historyof nursing in the United States BreastfeedingHistoryof Philippine nurses in the...
the value of breastfeeding for mothers as well as children. Both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then supplemented...
criticisms and aversion towards breastfeeding in previous generations for similar rationale, with the same societies finding breastfeeding to be a disagreeable...
continuing for two years or longer. Breastfeeding served as their only method of contraception and birth spacing. The birth of a newborn into the camp is cause...
of mothering through breastfeeding, especially in social cultures where motherhood andbreastfeeding are often not valued. This includes a mixture of...
The use and marketing of infant formula has come under scrutiny. Breastfeeding, including exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, is...
public breastfeeding is unregulated or legal, mothers may be reluctant to do so because other people may object. The issue ofbreastfeeding is part of the...
cool sleeping environment, using a pacifier, and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke. Breastfeedingand immunization may also be preventative. Measures...
exposure of breasts in portraits was limited to two groups of women; the scandalous (mistresses and prostitutes), and the pure (breastfeeding mothers and queens)...
Estrogen levels also drop at delivery and remain low for the first several months ofbreastfeeding. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid estrogen-based birth...
am and 6 am are the most beneficial for breastfeeding. In general, Sears argues that breastfeeding is beneficial for the health of both child and mother...
wet-nursed for the benefit of the child's health, and sometimes in the hope of becoming pregnant again quickly. Exclusive breastfeeding inhibits ovulation in...
effects may include psychosis and breathing problems in babies. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe while use during breastfeeding is not recommended. How it...