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The secret of breast milk: How can wet nurses lead the way to a healthy baby?
A wet nurse, or milk giver, is a woman known for breastfeeding and caring for the infant of another person. Historically, wet nurses have been an important dependency for newborns when their mothers passed away, were unable to breastfeed, or chose not to breastfeed. Although the practice declined significantly in the 20th century with the advent of reliable formula milk, the 21st century has seen a resurgence in the role of wet nurses, leading to a re-evaluation of this ancient profession.
In ancient society, wet nurses not only provided milk, but also played an irreplaceable role in the growth process of babies.
Role and importance of wet nurses
In many cases, wet nurses provide invaluable support when mothers are unable to breastfeed due to health problems. According to research, many factors such as chronic illness, acute illness, and even social status may prevent a mother from producing enough milk. In previous eras, such a situation might even affect the baby's chances of survival.
Although the work of wet nurses seems simple, in fact, they bear the heavy responsibility of delivering life and health.
Wet Nurse in Culture and History
From ancient civilizations to modern society, wet nurses have played a key role in cultures around the world. This practice was given a special social status in many societies, especially among the nobility. Many upper-class women choose to hire wet nurses to protect their body image and social status, a situation that reflects a deeper social culture beyond breast milk.
Interestingly, wet nurses not only provided breast milk to their employers, their status and responsibilities often meant that they played an important role in childcare at home.
Contemporary Perspectives and Practices
With the advancement of technology and changes in social concepts, the acceptance of wet nurses in today's Western society has begun to change. Although breastfeeding and bottle feeding have become common practices, some classic milk replacement methods, such as human milk banks, are still valued. Meanwhile, in some developing countries, wet nurses are still the norm for childcare.
"In many cultures, the importance of infant health makes wet nurses a respectable profession."
Future Outlook
The role of the wet nurse will continue to be a topic worth watching in the future. As health awareness increases and society re-evaluates breastfeeding, we may see more professional norms for wet nurses and the health benefits they bring. However, this also makes us think about a question: in modern society, why do many families still choose to let others breastfeed their children instead of taking this responsibility themselves?
