Genealogy Chat

Breastfeeding has a contraceptive effect, and years ago the upper classes wanted sons and heirs, lots of them. The men would not allow their wives to breastfeed if it would reduce the possibility of another pregnancy and another heir. I've just been reading a book about Anne Boleyn, in which its said that she wanted to flout convention and feed Elizabeth herself, which Henry would not allow for the reason above, and therefore Elizabeth went to a wet nurse. My mum wanted to breastfeed me but I was having none of it, so she used to donate her milk to a local prem baby unit. Lisa

Hi Marjorie The pudding basin image is almost as vivid now as the people in the shoebox! I think it's a marvellous story though and something you should be very proud of having done. Don't you dare throw the certificate away, it will make a wonderful story for future generations. At least it sounds like my Harriet was a clean and healthy young lady. At this rate that might be the only thing I manage to find out about her! Lou

Hi Lou Just seen this thread and thought you might like to know that Wet Nurses were generally chosen for their 'Cleanliness, Good Health and Sobriety'. Milk-maids and Dairymaids were in particular demand in the country as it had been noticed that not only were they clean (goes with the job) but that they did not catch, nor pass on, smallpox either. (Later found to be because they had had a mild, inoculative form of it, caught from the cows!). All this reminded me suddenly of my experience after the birth of my third child. (Off you go, lads, this is women's talk, you'll only be sick or something). I had so much milk that I was like a human jet-washer. I was continually soaking and dripping! So much so, that on the few occasions I had to venture out, I wore two large plastic pudding basins in my bra - I looked like Boadicea. The Health Visitor was hysterical, but later phoned me to say she was delivering some milk-bottles, could I fill them up and take them to the Maternity Unit? I did this for nearly four months and then everything settled down to a proper supply and demand. Later, I received a lovely letter from the Hospital and a certificate to say that I had supplied prem babies with over 70 litres of milk! My ex thought this was screamingly funny and said he now had written proof that I was indeed a cow. (Not a nice man). I am now wondering what my descendants will make of this certificate and think I ought to tear it up! But its the only certificate of achievement I have ever had (apart from coming eleventh in the egg and spoon race, thats another story) Marjorie

Thanks everyone Another side to the fair Harriet I didn't know about....this woman gets mor5e intriguing by the minute! Lou

Linda thanks for that - I have a monthly nurse also and I assumed that it meant she looked after a baby at that time of the month when the mother was to weak to do it herself!!! Zoe

Wet nurses would always be someone who had just had or lost a child, so that they had milk to feed with. often 'upper' class maothers would pay a wet nurse to feed their children because it 'wasn't nice' for them to breast feed. ann glos

From old occupations website WET NURSE - woman employed to suckle tthe child of another (common practice with the rich) Just think if only I was rich, I needn't have spent all those long nights tending to my little ones.

I think this was the occupation title before nursery nurse...

How bizarre! She was only 16 when she had her own baby and she was feeding another one as well. Enterprising girl! Thanks both of you! Lou

No that would have been her occupation. To look after someones baby if they weren't fit at the time to do it.

Got a birth cert this morning with mother's occupation WET NURSE. Do I take this to mean that she didn't have other employment other than having just had a baby??? Thanks Lou