Flash Back Friday: 8 (Breastfeeding Throughout History Series)

My husband came up with a new flash back Friday series tonight!  We’re going to  take a look back in time at the different views of breastfeeding throughout history. Just little tid bits here and there… 

I hope you enjoy learning about this as much as I do. I love all things history ( I must have inherited the love from my Dad) so when Kyle suggested this series I thought it would be perfect! Intertwining two passions into one!

Sometimes it’s good to know where we came from so that we can see where we are going.

Breastfeeding throughout history – 18th Century

{image via jimsmuse}

Though breast was considered best Mothers rarely nursed their own children. Sending your child to a wet nurse was expected from most middle to upper class mothers mostly insisted from the Church and husbands due to the insistence of having no sexual relations during nursing periods due to the risk of pregnancy.

It was taught sexual relations would affect breast milk and make it taste bad therefore infants would not eat.

Many found breastfeeding repulsive and unladylike.

Breast milk was believed to be placental or menstrual blood transformed to continue to nourish the baby once outside of the womb.

It amazes me how perceptions have changed and will continue to change…  We’ll pick up on a new era next week! Did any of you know that these were the thoughts on breastfeeding during this time?  What do you think?