>I'm all for us reclaiming 'nursing'.  It's the original term, in 
>terms of our own langauge tree, and it's the one that then extended 
>its meaning to other types of nursing.  I can understand if you are 
>it the medical profession, it's harder to reclaim, but I think it's 
>an important word.
>
>It encompases the warmth and emotional bonding of the process, as 
>much as the method of feeding.  It also brings with it it's own 
>history, and reminds people this is not a new fangled thing.  It's a 
>word of childhood: Nursey Rhymes, The Nursery, and it's a word of 
>love.
>
>It's a word I use constantly, and hope others will reclaim it too!  :-)
>
>Morgan Gallagher

Hard, though.....in the north of England, where I am (and in other 
areas of the UK, too), 'nursing' the baby means 'holding' the baby, 
but mostly in order to offer comfort and love. Anyone can do it, 
male, female, sibling, friend.  A  grandfather might say, 'give me 
the baby and I will nurse her for a bit'. Occasionally, I have heard 
it used to mean 'breastfeeding' and 'a nursing mother' does tend mean 
'a mother who is breastfeeding' .

I think the notion of it meaning 'to offer comfort' is equally warm 
and lovely and if we reclaim it for breastfeeding solely, what will 
we north of Englanders use when we want to offer comfort to (someone 
else's) baby by holding lovingly,  maybe rocking and singing a 
little, back patting and all that warm fuzzy stuff that's beautiful 
to share?!

'Cuddle' is *so* not the same!

I'd like to reclaim 'feeding' as meaning 'breastfeeding' alone , 
though I accept it's a bit utilitarian, and doesn't embrace the 
comfort and relationship thing...although once it aquired this 
meaning alone, it might do :)

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfr, tutor, UK

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