My mother referred to breastfeeding as "nursing " also.  She "nursed " eight
children and was herself "nursed"  by her mother (who died in childbirth
when my mother was 5)(how did she know all that she knew about nursing
babies? )  Must have come from loving relatives.
Mother was born in the early 1900's so it must have been the terminology of
the day. Also she was an RN and went to school in the early 1920s and she
used the term "nursing "   when referring to care of a patient also. It must
have been interchangeable and it suited the Southern style.
It was always a pleasant sound to hear her voice when she would stay  with
me Post partum after having my babies .. I would love to hear her say after
the phone rang.  "She is nursing her baby now--this is her Mother How can I
help you ?"
I find that among my most pleasant memories.
I also find myself saying that bedside if I am in the room of a new mother
that I am caring for post partum.
I miss my Mother
Beadie Cambardella RN IBCLC
Atlanta, GA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Gagne & Elise Morse-Gagne" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 10:48 PM
Subject: terminology


> I find I use "breastfeeding" for the general concept (I'm a breastfeeding
> facilitator/counselor; breastfeeding is a multimodal way to nurture a
baby;
> moms need more support for breastfeeding...) but "nursing" for individual
> instances as in "she's nursing her baby right now" or "how do you feel the
> baby is nursing?" or whatever.
> Sometimes I've heard it suggested "nursing" is the squeamish term, for
> people who don't like "BREAST" (eek).  Not how it feels to me...it's just
> what it's called.
> Love that story of the elderly Australian woman who offered to nurse the
baby!
> Elise
>
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