Sarah notes,

<< I do understand the multiple usages of the
 word "nursing" in some English speaking countries.  I wish that there was
 an unequivical alternative. >>

Well, FWIW, women were "nursing" their babies a long time before "nursing"
(the profession) came into being.

It is interesting, however, that when we talk about "nursing" someone back to
health, the picture it conjures up is one of loving, tender, care.  In our
high tech age, "nursing" (in a hospital at any rate), seems to have lost some
of that.

Someone once pointed out that a woman who breastfeeds for a relatively short
period of time (less than 6 months, for example) usually talks about how long
she "breastfed" her baby.  A woman, OTOH, who breastfeeds for a long time --
more than a year, generally talks about how long she "nursed" her baby.

One implies feeding; the other implies all the other things that go along
with breastfeeding -- the nurturing, the nursing, the love & caring.
 Breastfeeding is very important for the nutrition, the nutrients, the
antibodies, etc etc.  Nursing is very important for all the other reasons.
 Interestingly enough, there are women who only breastfeed -- "you are done
eating.  You can't use me as a pacifier," and there are babies who only nurse
-- and don't gain weight.  Those are the ones we are concerned about.

My vote is we use both terms as they both have meaning, but in different
ways.

Jan -- in Wheaton where it SNOWED last night!!!