In a message dated 9/9/04 12:31:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> The "elegant" words for "to breastfeed" are "amamantar" or "dar el pecho"
> (give the breast). Informally, we say "dar la teta". I don't know whether
> "teta" (informal word for breast, but not slang) is inappropriate in other
> Spanish speaking countries.
>
> Mother's milk is translated as "leche materna" (maternal milk?). Babies
> "maman" (formal), "toman el pecho" (or "toman la teta"), that is "take the
> breast". "Chupar la teta" (suck the breast) is used less frequently and is
> less polite.
>

Among the Dominican and Puerto Rican moms I work with, most commonly used is
"dar el seno",  I do hear "la teta", but I get the feeling that  its slightly
more slang. (But not rude). It's hard to separate out my connection of the
word with the English sound-similar, so I might be projecting my personal
connotations to the word.

Hehe..a close friend of mine, well educated, calls it "boob-feeding",
although I admit to a wince inside when I hear her call it that. I forgive her
though, because I have seen the notable softening inside that the breast-feeding
experience did for this incredibly tough-as-nails woman.

June Eastman, BS, M.Ed, IBCLC
Lawrence Massachusetts WIC Program

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