In a message dated 2/25/2003 8:01:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> Fascinating stuff!
yes Lynn, thanks for that post, very interesting, you may also like this from
Kathy Dettwyler yesterday 2/25:
<<There is a chapter in Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives by Valerie
Fildes which provides a brief overview of breastfeeding in history (and
breastfeeding substitutes). She also has a whole book on this subject,
titled "Breasts, Bottles, and Babies." She does indeed talk about the
evidence from ancient Egypt. There are some graves of infants that contain
artificial feeding devices, such as things made from cows' horns. Note that
these are found IN GRAVES OF INFANTS. Yes, I'm shouting. In Ancient Egypt,
as still most places in the world today, if a child is not breastfed, they
die. Some rich women throughout history have tried to 'get out of'
breastfeeding, by farming their kids out to wet nurses, and in modern times
by using breast milk substitutes (which you can only get away with in a
context where you also have immunizations, antibiotics, clean water, and
modern sewage systems).
Probably the royal family's wet nurses in Ancient Egypt were well-nourished
and well-cared for, and most of their children survived. But from Fildes'
careful work we know that in many places, upper class children died in
droves when sent out to the country to be wet-nursed by farm women who were
likely nursing not only their own children, but several other children as
well. Mortality rates were quite high.
To suggest that Ancient Egyptians did not breastfeed is like suggesting that
they didn't poop. I doubt there is any serious scholarly evidence or
references to prove that Ancient Egyptians defecated and urinated. But it's
a safe bet to assume they did -- as it's a safe bet to assume they breastfed
for several years, and slept with their children.
Today, most Egyptian children are breastfed for several years. There is no
reason to suspect that Egypt somehow miraculously went from a
non-breastfeeding culture a breastfeeding one.
Kathy Dettwyler, Ph.D. in Anthropology>>
Debbie Tobin
RN BSN IBCLC LCCE
Springfield, Virginia USA
In the Fairfax County suburbs outside the Washington DC beltway
<A HREF="www.BestBreastfeeding.Info">Planning For Breastfeeding Success Outline</A>
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/dltobin/index.html">Planning For Breastfeeding Success Quiz</A>
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