Patricia et al,
Just for interest sake, if I were to ask a mother in Japanese if she was
breastfeeding, the literal translation would be something like, "Are you
raising your child on mother's milk?" (bonyuu de sodateimasuka).
However, there is a most accepted and loving term for a mothers breast
that children use when asking to "drink breast" and children's songs and
books use when referring to breastfeeding.  (oppai ) My understanding is
that a different word for the breast is used when discussing anatomy.

One thing I liked about having and nursing my kids in Japan was the way
nursing was referred to in kids songs and books as a very normal part of
cultural heritage.  For example, a well known short child's lulluby is
about a baby Racoon's day.  He drinks breastmilk/nurses, takes a nap, Is
held in arms, and is held on the back, and will do it all again
tomorrow...  (The words used are those the children are familiar with for
their days!)  The word has the connotations of the special experience of
breastfeeding--what we are missing here in the USA.

Unfortunately, the incidence of exclusive and long term nursing seems to
have really dropped in the last generation.....

Natalie Shenk, BS, IBCLC
private practice in Ohio and who spent 5 years in Japan where she had 2
children and was praised for raising her children on breastmilk...

<<<Someone who is Japanese told me their word for feeding the baby and I
can't
remember it but it didn't specify the container.  Maybe breastfeeding is
a
transitional word until the time when we don't need to clarify. We need
to
someday have a word that expresses the oneness of this beautiful
experience.<<<