wetnursing

Wet nursing is the practice of a woman breastfeeding an infant who is not her own. Historically, wet nurses were employed by wealthier families to feed their babies, allowing the mother to avoid the physical demands of breastfeeding or to return to social or professional duties. The practice was common for centuries across various cultures and socioeconomic classes.

Wet nurses were often women who had recently given birth themselves or who were unable to breastfeed their own infants. They could be employed directly in the household or mothers could take their babies to a wet nurse's home. In some instances, wet nurses were also found in foundling hospitals and orphanages where large numbers of infants needed care.

The decision to use a wet nurse could be influenced by various factors, including medical reasons such as cracked nipples, insufficient milk supply, or illness of the mother. Social status also played a role, as it was often a mark of privilege. However, the practice carried risks, including the transmission of diseases like syphilis or HIV from the wet nurse to the infant.

In modern times, wet nursing has largely been replaced by infant formula and the increased emphasis on mothers breastfeeding their own children. While still practiced in some parts of the world, particularly where access to formula is limited or cultural practices favor it, it is much less common in Western societies. Human milk donation through milk banks serves a similar purpose in providing donor human milk for infants in need, offering a safer and more regulated alternative to traditional wet nursing.