Breastfeeding in the Course of History (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

Notes & Quotes

The importance of breastfeeding was obvious to ancient peoples

• From antiquity until today, the importance of breastfeeding has been well appreciated. This is reflected in its depiction in mythology, philosophy, art and religion all around the world (Papasavrou et al; 2015, p. 1).

  • Ancient Mesopotamian mythology glorified breast milk through Astarte, Queen of Heaven and Mother of the fertile breast (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

  • Ancient scriptures mention the importance of breastfeeding (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 1).

  • Venus of Willendorf can be interpreted as an idealised female figure; one with an emphasis on fertility and childbearing (Papasavrou, et al, 2015; p. 2).

Neanderthals and Stone Age peoples are believed to have breastfeed on demand for several years

• Neanderthals and Stone Age peoples are believed to have breastfed on demand for several years (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 1).

  • Neanderthal babies may have been breastfed exclusively at first, supplemented with other foods from about 7 months, and weaned around 1–2 years of age (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

Prehistoric humans’ weaning behaviour can be contemplated within the context of our primate relatives

• Chimpanzees and bonobos wean their young at around 4–5 years; gorillas around 3–4 years (Papasavrou et al, 2015; pp. 1–2).

Prehistoric humans’ weaning behaviours can also be contemplated within the context of certain contemporary groups

• Anthropological studies show the diet of people around 10,000BC resembled certain contemporary tribes in Papua New Guinea, etc; these contemporary tribes tend to nurse their babies until 2–6 years of age (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

Breastfeeding in the Ancient World

• According to Ancient Babylonian literature, breastfeeding would last for 2–3 years (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

  • Ancient Mesopotamian mythology glorified breast milk through Astarte, Queen of Heaven and Mother of the fertile breast (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

• The Papyrus Ebers – an Ancient Egyptian medical text from 1500 BC– discusses breastmilk supply problems and solutions; it also references the use of wet nurses (Papasavrou et al, 2015, p. 2).

• Ancient Chinese texts were often very close to modern advice re. breastfeeding (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 4).

Breastfeeding in the Middle Ages

• In the Middle Ages, breastmilk was believed to possess magical properties (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 4).

The use of wet-nurses has been common throughout human history

• Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used wet nurses as needed (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

  • The Papyrus Ebers – an Ancient Egyptian medical text from 1500 BC– discusses breastmilk supply problems and solutions; it also references the use of wet nurses (Papasavrou et al, 2015, p. 2).

• Laws regulating wet nurses are recorded from as early as 2000 BC (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

  • In 1800 BC, Hammurabi issued laws formalising the relationship between wet nurse and employer (Papasavrou et al, 2015; p. 2).

p. 2, in Ancient Greek myth, the Milky Way was created from Hera’s (non-consensually used) breastmilk

“Heracles created Milky Way, a crowd of stars that forms a distinctive bright streak across the night sky, when he was a baby. His father, Zeus, was very proud of his son, who was born of a mortal woman named Alcmene, and he let him suckle on his divine wife Hera’s breast while she was asleep, an act which he believed would endow the baby with godlike qualities. When Hera woke up and realized that she had an unknown infant on her breast, she pushed him away and the spurting milk became the Milky Way.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

p.2, the ‘Odyssey’ contains the first written reference (in Ancient Greece) to wet nurses, as 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.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

p.3, 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 of3 years. That was a cheap way of acquiring slaves.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

p.4, SunSimiao (581-682 AD) described breastmilk as a ‘product of vital energy’

“A Chinese work from SunSimiao (581 - 682 AD), described human milk as a product of vital energy.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

p.4, Breastfeeding in Ancient China usually lasted at least two years

“Breastfeeding in China usually lasted at least two years.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)

p.4, per Islam, children who were breastfed by the same woman were considered siblings and therefore prohibited to marry each other

”Children who were breastfed by the same woman were considered siblings and therefore were prohibited to marry each other.” (Papastavrou et al, 2015)