Guardian article on history of breastfeeding: goat wet-nurses, anyone?

[melpomene]

Very interesting

[stripeymama]

Hey - I was about to post about this!

It was interesting indeed. Have read a couple of her books and its fascinating to see the way attitudes change and the background to where we are now.

[morocco]

wow! few things i never knew before, esp the goat bit. not too sure about the pimply nips comment though

[hunkermunker]

Utterly fascinating! Thank you very much for posting it.

"Giving suck"

[Prunie]

INteresting
I just read a book about how many babies died in the past because of 'hand-feeding' ie being weaned at days old on bread and water, or being fed some other nonsense. Not to mention wet nurses putting opium on their nipples to calm the babies
Some foundling hospitals had death rates of 90-odd percent

[laundrylover]

I read this today and have been telling everyone about the goats!! Was also interested to read that Truby King was so pro bfing when all I read about him is in relation to that awful TV prog.

When I worked on a city farm a staff member used to put her autistic toddler in the goat pen 'for safety' - maybe they were secretly feeding him????

[meglet]

GF summed it up quite well I think,

"Until the UK acknowledges that its present post-partum care policy is severely flawed, it will continue to have a disappointingly small number of mothers who breastfeed their babies for more than a fortnight."

My hospital only has a BF counsellor monday to friday . Obviously no one has babies at the weekend.

[Prunie]

Yes the irony of that comment coming from GF!
I think you are lucky to have a counsellor mon-fri tbh - we had one on mon morning and weds morning, two hours per session. Voluntary and had to constantly fight to keep their clinic open.

[meglet]

prunie Thats not good I'll be a bit more appreciative of our BF counsellor then!

[Prunie]

Would be great if they were open at weekends, though. In an ideal world eh?!

[Upwind]

What is a "basting tongue" ?

[duchesse]

I was about to post this!