Wet nursing refers to the practice of breastfeeding someone else's child, typically done by a woman who is not the biological mother. The spelling of "wet nursing" can be explained by its phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): /wɛt ˈnɜrsɪŋ/. The first part, "wet", is pronounced with a short "e" sound, similar to "pet". The second part, "nursing", is pronounced with an "er" sound followed by a short "i" sound, similar to "purse-ing". This spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word.
Wet nursing refers to the act of a lactating woman breastfeeding and caring for another woman's baby or child. It is a practice that has been observed throughout history and across different cultures, often necessitated by various factors such as maternal illness, death, or a mother's inability to produce breast milk.
In this arrangement, the wet nurse assumes the role of providing sustenance and maternal care to the child, usually on a temporary basis. The wet nursing relationship can either be informal, where the arrangement is made between two individuals, or formal, where specialized institutions or wet nurse agencies facilitate the process. These institutions and agencies historically served as a means to connect mothers in need of a wet nurse with experienced lactating women.
Wet nursing was particularly prevalent during earlier centuries when infant mortality rates were high, disease prevention was limited, and societal norms often restricted women's participation in public and professional life. While wet nursing has declined in modern times due to advancements in infant formula and the increased emphasis on breastfeeding by biological mothers, it can still be found in certain communities and regions today.
The practice of wet nursing has sparked debates around concerns of transmitting diseases, potential neglect of the wet nurse's biological child, and the emotional bonding between the wet nurse and the infant. However, it has also been seen as a vital means of providing essential nourishment, benefiting both the biological mother and the child in need.
The term "wet nursing" is derived from combining the words "wet" and "nurse". "Wet" refers to the breastfeeding process in which a lactating woman produces milk, and "nurse" refers to the act of caring for and feeding a child. Therefore, "wet nursing" specifically refers to the practice of breastfeeding another person's child, usually by a woman other than the child's biological mother.