From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A
wet nurse
is a woman who
breastfeeds
and cares for someone elses child. In ancient times this was very common, partly because many women died in
childbirth
. Many babies died so women were available to do this. Wealthy people would pay women to do this.
[1]
Since
infant formula
was invented this has become much less common.
- ↑
O'Reilly, Andrea, "Wet Nursing," Encyclopedia of Motherhood (2010): 1271