children

[joette]

Mary our lactating tom was called Rev(he had a white collar of fur around his otherwise black fur)
His Mother was a feral cat who we took in out of sympathy & she repayed by giving birth to under my sister & I's bed.
She then disappeared when they were weaned but never took very good care of them.We kept Rev.
Well she returned one cold icy winter night & choose our wardrobe for her birthing place! She had several kittens-five or six.
Rev was fascinated & he would clean,carry care for them most tenderly.
Anyway Mum went off & Rev very sucesfully fed them.

He & the kittens later had to be put down as they contracted a hideous untreatable virus.

Thanks Stew I thought maybe my imagination was running wild.

I do know that one of my best friends was very upset to come home & discover her Mother-in-Law very happily breast- feeding her Grandson!
She could lactate at will.

[loz_scotland]

An end to the story, just found wee Isabella's death certificate she died from pneumonia 17/7/1871 aged 6 months.

Laura

[emanday]

An end to the story, just found wee Isabella's death certificate she died from pneumonia 17/7/1871 aged 6 months.

Laura

What a shame. Maybe she wasn't too strong after a difficult birth.

joette,

I suppose we shouldn't really be surprised that this kind of thing happens. Nature always seems to have a way of compensating.
Much as we think of cats as pets, they are still very much more "of the wild" than our dogs, and I think this kind of situation arises much more often than might be imagined.

Have to say, I've never heard of a dog doing this.

[StewL]

Hi all

I found an article that covers the subject of breastfeeding a non biological child I cant get the link to work but google induced lactation, there is an article there.

[JulieAK]

I've found a few nurslings in my searches too. It's interesting how the census actually listed them as such - what great info.

A few things to note for genealogy purposes :
The wetnurse may have actually been pregnant years before the event of wetnursing. Induced lactation would have been possible through hand pumping to establish supply but it would have been hard work. I know adoptive parents sometimes try it, even with electric pumps and modern medications - it's possible but not easy.

The wetnurse could have been pregnant, then if she continued to wetnurse baby after baby, she could have continued this occupation for years. Think of cows It's a supply and demand thing. As long as the demand is there (the nurslings), the wetnurse's body will continue to produce milk.

So if you're looking for a death of a child, remember to look years back.

[Thrall]

Just to prove I´ve been paying attention at the back:

http://www.switch.tv/videos/39

which gives a more than surprising result.

Even more surprising is that back in 1858 our own David Livingstone recorded this happening in our very own Highlands.

Almost on the doorstep. Males breast feeding - and not just once, it´s recorded elsewhere.

Well...........

If only I´d known a quarter century ago when the bairns were wee........

Probably just as well, though, or some eyebrows might have been elevated.

Guid hunting,

Thrall

Ps. I hope no one feels too gender challenged!

[marilyn morning]

Thrall wrote

I hope no one feels too gender challenged!

Hi Thrall,

I wouldn't exactly say I'm gender challenged, more like in shock

Regards
Marilyn