[ **up: [[Lactation]] | [[Infants--Nutrition]] | [[History]]** ] --- # Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding – History ## Breastfeeding, Prehistoric ### Extrapolating from primate relatives [[2024-0414. Bonobos and chimpanzees wean their young at around 4–5 years; gorillas around 3–4 years.|Bonobos and chimpanzees wean their young at around 4–5 years; gorillas around 3–4 years.]][^1] ### Extrapolating from contemporary peoples [[2024-0501. Contemporary tribes in Papua New Guinea tend to nurse their babies until 2-6 years of age.|Contemporary tribes in Papua New Guinea tend to nurse their babies until 2-6 years of age.]][^2] [[2024-0414. Babies are typically breastfed for nearly 30 months in modern non-industrial societies.|Babies are typically breastfed for nearly 30 months in modern non-industrial societies.]][^3] --- ### Neanderthals [[2024-0414. Neanderthal and Stone Age peoples are believed to have breastfed on demand for several years.|Neanderthal and Stone Age peoples are believed to have breastfed on demand for several years.]][^4] *Alternatively:* [[2024-0414. It is possible that Neanderthal babies were breastfed exclusively at first, supplemented with other foods from about 7 months, and weaned around 1-2 years of age.|It is possible that Neanderthal babies were breastfed exclusively at first, supplemented with other foods from about 7 months, and weaned around 1-2 years of age.]][^2] --- ## Breastfeeding in prehistoric art [[2024-0414. The Venus of Willendorf may emphasise the importance of fertility and childrearing.|'The Venus of Willendorf, a high statuette of a female figure, was excavated in 1908 from a Paleolithic site near Willendorf village in Austria. It is estimated that it was carved around 28.000 and 25.000 BC. Several similar statuettes were discovered, and are collectively referred to as Venus figurines, such as the Venus of Laussel (23.000-20.000 BC). These figures are not considered to be realistic portraits, but rather an idealization of the female figure, emphasizing the significance of fertility and childbearing.']][^2] --- ## Breastfeeding in myth and religion [[2024-0414. The importance of breastfeeding was understood throughout human history; this is reflected in global myth, art, and religion.|The importance of breastfeeding was understood throughout human history; this is reflected in global myth, art, and religion.]][^5] [[2024-0426. 'Ancient scriptures mention the importance of breastfeeding.'|'Ancient scriptures mention the importance of breastfeeding.]][^4] --- ## Breastfeeding in ancient history ### Mesopotamia [[2024-0426. ‘According to Babylonian scriptures, breastfeeding used to last for 2–3 years.’|‘According to Babylonian scriptures, breastfeeding used to last for 2–3 years.’]][^2] [[The Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used wet nurses as needed.|The Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used wet nurses as needed.]][^2] [[2024-0529. Laws regulating wet nurses were recorded as early as 2000 BC.|Laws regulating wet nurses were recorded as early as 2000 BC.]][^2] *Code of Hammurabi:* [[2024-0414. 'If a man give his son to a nurse and that son die in the hands of the nurse'. (Code of Hammurabi).|'⁌ If a man give his son to a nurse and that son die in the hands of the nurse, and the nurse substitute another son without the consent of his father or mother, they shall call her to account, and because she has substituted another son without the consent of his father or mother, they shall cut off her breast.']][^6] --- ### Ancient Egypt [[2024-0426. The Payprus Ebers said to get a supply of breastmilk, warm the bones of a sword fish in oil and rub her back with it.|The Papyrus Ebers (1500 BCE) said, 'To get a supply of milk in a woman’s breast for suckling a child: Warm the bones of a sword fish in oil and rub her back with it. Or: Let the woman sit cross-legged and eat fragrant bread of soused durra, while rubbing her breasts with the poppy plant.']][^2] --- ### Ancient Greece [[In Ancient Greek myth, the Milky Way was created from Hera’s (non-consensually used) breastmilk.|In Ancient Greek myth, the Milky Way was created from Hera’s (non-consensually used) breastmilk.]][^2] [[The Odyssey contains the first written reference (in the western world) to wet nurses; Odysseus was nursed by Evriklia.|'In the Odyssey there is, for the first time, a written reference to wet nurses, as Odysseus was nursed by Evriklia.']][^2] --- ### Ancient Rome [[2024-0414. At the height of the Roman empire, rich folks paid wet nurses to breastfeed abandoned babies for them; this was a cheap source of slaves.|'At the height of the Roman Empire, between 300 BC and 400AD, detailed written contracts with wet nurses were formed, to nourish abandoned babies. These infants were usually unwanted baby-girls thrown in the trash, bought by the rich and fed by nannies until the age of 3 years. That was a cheap way of acquiring slaves.']][^2] --- ### Ancient China [[2024-0414. 'Breastfeeding in China usually lasted at least two years.'|'Breastfeeding in China usually lasted at least two years.']][^7] [[2024-0414. Sun Simiao, of the Tang dynasty, describes breastmilk as the product of ‘vital energies’.|'The ancient Chinese medical texts, but not the early European texts, address the origins of human milk. A Chinese work by Sun Simiao (581 to 682) of the Tang Dynasty describes human milk as the product of vital energies.']][^8] [[2024-0725. Even prior to the appearance of the medical speciality of paediatrics, well-known medical texts discussed the proper nutrition of infants in the Tang dynasty.|Even prior to the appearance of the medical speciality of paediatrics, well-known medical texts discussed the proper nutrition of infants in the Tang dynasty.]][^9] [[2024-0725. 'A Thorough Discussion of the Hygiene of Small Children' (Song dynasty) provides a rich source of information re. breastfeeding in ancient China.|'A Thorough Discussion of the Hygiene of Small Children' (Song dynasty) provides a rich source of information re. breastfeeding in ancient China.]][^9] [[2024-0412. Special instructions re. breastfeeding appeared in Chinese medical writings from the 10th century onward as paediatrics became a medical profession.|Special instructions re. breastfeeding appeared in Chinese medical writings from the 10th century onward as paediatrics became a medical profession.]][^10] [[2024-0414. Ancient Chinese writings seem to be closer in orientation to modern worldwide medical advice, approaching breastfeeding from a more natural and supportive perspective.|'Chinese writings seem to be closer in orientation to modern worldwide medical advice, approaching breastfeeding from a more natural and supportive perspective.']][^11] --- ### Islam [[2024-0414. Per Islam, 'children who were breastfed by the same woman were considered siblings and therefore were prohibited to marry each other.'|Per Islam, 'children who were breastfed by the same woman were considered siblings and therefore were prohibited to marry each other.']][^7] --- ### Middle Ages [[2024-0501. In the Middle Ages, breastmilk was believed to have magical properties; it could transmit both physical and psychological characteristics from breast to child.|'Breast milk was believed to have magical properties, and it was thought that breast milk could transmit both physical and psychological characteristics of the woman.']][^7] --- ## Misc. [[2024-0414. Ancient and not-so-ancient western medical advice on breastfeeding often implies the inadequacy of the mother to breastfeed her own infant, especially in the early weeks of life.|'Ancient and not-so-ancient western medical advice on breastfeeding often implies the inadequacy of the mother to breastfeed her own infant, especially in the early weeks of life. One can only speculate as to what the historical basis for this may be.']][^11] --- - *See also:* - [[Wet nurses]] - [[Milk kinship]] [^1]: M. Papasavrou, et al, ‘[[Papastavrou, et al. ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015.|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]]’, *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care* 2, issue 6 (8 September 2015), pp. 1–2. [^2]: M. Papasavrou, et al, ‘[[Papastavrou, et al. ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015.|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]]’, *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care* 2, issue 6 (8 September 2015), p. 2. [^3]: Michael Balter, ‘[[Balter, ‘How Long Did Neanderthals Nurse_ Old Tooth Yields Answer’, 2013.|How Long Did Neanderthals Nurse? Old Tooth Yields Answer]]’, *HuffPost*, 23 May 2013, [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/neanderthal-breastfeeding-prehistoric-tooth_n_3321809](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/neanderthal-breastfeeding-prehistoric-tooth_n_3321809). [^4]: M. Papasavrou, et al, ‘[[Papastavrou, et al. ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015.|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]], *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care* 2, issue 6 (8 September 2015), p. 1. [^5]: M. Papasavrou, et al, ‘[[Papastavrou, et al. ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015.|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]]’, *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care* 2, issue 6 (8 September 2015), p. 1. [^6]: Robert Francis Harper (ed.), *The Code of Hammurabi King of Babylon about 2250 B.C.* (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1904), n.p. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/hammurabi-the-code-of-hammurabi. [^7]: M. Papasavrou, et al, ‘[[Papastavrou, et al. ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015.|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]]’, *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care* 2, issue 6 (8 September 2015), p. 4. [^8]: L.M. Gartner and C. Stone, ‘[[Gartner & Stone. ‘Two thousand years of medical advice on breastfeeding_ comparison of Chinese and western texts’, 1994.|Two Thousand Years of Medical Advice on Breastfeeding: Comparison of Chinese and Western Texts]]’, *Seminars in Perinatology* 18, no. 6, \[PIP]. [^9]: Ping-Chen Hsiung. ‘[[Hsiung. ‘To Nurse the Young_ Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding in Late Imperial China’, 1995.|To Nurse the Young: Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding in Late Imperial China]]’, *Journal of Family History* 20, no. 3 (September 1995), p. 218. [^10]: Ping-Chen Hsiung, ‘[[Hsiung. ‘To Nurse the Young_ Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding in Late Imperial China’, 1995.|To Nurse the Young: Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding in Late Imperial China]]’, *Journal of Family History* 20, no. 3 (September 1995), p. 217. [^11]: L. M. Gartner and C. Stone. ‘[[Gartner & Stone. ‘Two thousand years of medical advice on breastfeeding_ comparison of Chinese and western texts’, 1994.|Two Thousand Years of Medical Advice on Breastfeeding: Comparison of Chinese and Western Texts]]’, *Seminars in Perinatology* 18, no. 6 (December 1994), abstract.