History of breastfeeding: what has been preventing the natural way to feed infants from ancient times to modern day?

Abstract

Presently, there is solid evidence that breast-feeding is ideal for the nutrition, harmonious physical and psychosocial development of the infants. This postulate is confirmed not only by modern scientific data, but also by the entire history of humanity from ancient times. However, history also shows that at all times there were various factors besides medical ones that prevent the appropriate and widespread breastfeeding of infants. These factors were both religious and social, and even political; they changed from one era to another and from one nation to another, and unfortunately, take place in modern society. They often had a character of prejudice and reflected on the health state of both infants and their mothers. This article presents a historical overview of the factors preventing breastfeeding, which can help the paediatrician understand the current causes of the insufficient prevalence of natural feeding.

Keywords

• breastfeeding
• children
• artificial feeding
• lactation
• foster-mother
• nutrition
• history