To ask what people did before formula?

[Annabelleinapickle]

There's always a BF/FF debate but genuinely what did we do before formula existed? It worked fine then, people produced milk? Personally I think it's all the devices, unhealthy crap invented that has made our bodies less able.

[lavenderdoilly]

More babies died.

[Annabelleinapickle]

Really? They starved ?

[ghostyslovesheep]

erm no Babies of poor women died, richer women had wet nurses, cows milk was also used an weaning was earlier

I'd love to know how Ipads made my breast produce less milk though - do tell!

[CaptainCrunch]

Wet nurses were used by royalty and other wealthy people.

[Kim82]

Wet nurses were used I imagine.

[Fairylea]

Babies used to die before formula. My gran was a midwife many moons ago and she said she met many infants where the mums were unable to feed and they were feeding them condensed milk or milk mixed with flour and infants were becoming very malnurished. She knew of many babies who had died. Thank goodness we now have formula!

[CremeEggThief]

Wet nurse until the early 20th centry, especially for upper classes . People probably gave cows or goats milk from a very early age too.

[ghostyslovesheep]

have a little look at the figures for infant death from malnutrition in developing countries - that might help

[Mousefinkle]

Wet nurses if you were wealthy.
Some poorer people would ask relatives to feed for them sometimes. If not it was either cows/goats milk, flour and water concoctions or the baby would simply die.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

My grandmother fed my mum condensed milk. I remember being shocked when she told me.

[Pantone363]

They died

Or were fed by someone else, fed a mixture of cows milk/rice etc

Ate you feigning stupidity on purpose?

[WhatWouldFlopDo]

A mixture of things probably, grandmother's feeding, sisters feeding - there was probably more peer to peer support back then, generations of mothers showing mothers - but yes babies dying too sadly.

[Annabelleinapickle]

This isn't a mean post by the way, I'm not producing half of what my baby needs now and I'm sad about it so just popped into my head what would have happened had formula not been on hand for us. Thank you x

[GinAndColonic]

Wow. Of course babies died! Starved to death. Wet nurses, breastfeeding friends, given cow or goat milk and hope for the best.

We're genetically designed for evolution, think about it for more than one goady minute.

[Jamiesrevenge]

Milk was delivered by magical unicorns...... Jeez

[cosmickitten]

As others said wet nursng or death

[SelfRaisingFlour]

My in-laws (in their 70s) were fed on condensed milk and cows milk.

[GinAndColonic]

Ok, terrible cross posts there. Thought you were being very insensitive now I see that I am.

Even half what they need is great going - you're doing well

[annandale]

wet nursing/shared feeding

in tudor times and probably for a long time after that people gave 'pap' which was bread and water

people weaned very early, either to animal milk or other solids

people were more 'tolerant' of babies being miserable and crying a lot (i.e. it was more expected, Henry VIII employed 3 servants just to rock Princess Mary's cradle)

but it is also true that if

[kelda]

My grandmother wet nursed 70 years ago, for a short time, for newborn babies in the hospital. I wish I knew more details!

[annandale]

oh duuno what that last bit was

[DonkeyOaty]

Honestly if you ask on the Infant Feeding boards there are lots of people with information at their fingertips.