In reply to Penny Piercy who-wisely-noted that nursing is not as acceptable
as breastfeeding in some cultures, here is what happened to me while
touring in Australia.

In the course of speaking in, and seeing parts of, 8 different cities, I
took lots of plane rides.  I was so impressed when the usual safety message
came on (usually a video) and the voice-over (male) voice said "if you are
nursing a child, adjust your safety mask first...." etc.  I have heard this
message so often, I rarely pay attention to the pictures that accompany the
message.  I just continued reading/doing a crossword puzzle/working on
cross-stitching.  UNTIL the next to last flight.

For some reason, I looked up when the message came on and I observed that
the picutre included a 2 1/2-3 yr old child (my estimate) sitting on a
FATHER's lap!

Now, I acknolwedge that Aussie's are WAY AHEAD of many northern-living
people when it comes to breastfeeding, but I was not aware that fathers
breastfeed babies there (on the other hand it is DOWN UNDER!  :-)  )
Anyway, the image gave me pause and made me wonder what was really being
said.

I mentioend this at a conference, and someone laughed and said, that
"nursing" referred to "caring for" rather than suckling!

Here's to another reason for using the original term rather than a
euphemism for nurturing.  :-)




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]