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Breast feeding in the Early 19th Century

July 31, 2010 by Vic

Breastfeeding mother, Marguerite Gerard

French artists Marguerite Gerard (1761-1837) painted this domestic scene of a mother about to breast feed her child.  The subject is unusual in that breasfeeding one’s baby was unfashionable for aristocratic and upper classes,  and the act had become associated with the poor and lower classes.

Generally, wet nurses were paid to feed the babies of the wealthy. Much thought and care went into their selection, and their milk was examined for texture, color, viscosity, and taste. Some thought that aspects of a wet nurse’s personality could be passed through her milk, and therefore her character had to be impeccable. Cassandra Austen, Jane Austen’s mother, sent all her children to the nearby village of Deane to be nursed in their infancy.  Although Cassandra Austen visited her babies daily, they did not return to the family fold until they were around 18 months of age.

The popularity of wet nurses stemmed from the fact that royalty often wanted large families. Wet nurses were hired to feed the newborn so that the royal mother would soon regain fertility and become pregnant again. When royals stopped breastfeeding their children, other women from wealthy families soon followed suit and began to farm their babies out to wet nurses.  This practiced continued until the end of the 19th century, when it largely died out.

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Posted in jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Customs, Regency Life, Regency Period, Regency society, Regency style, Regency World, Royalty | Tagged Breast feeding in the Regency era, Marguerite Gerard | 9 Comments

9 Responses

  1. on July 31, 2010 at 15:00 Hannah

    Hi there. :) I’m curious whether Jane Austen’s world has heard about the website Feelin’ Feminine’s Jane Austen tour 2010.

    http://feelinfeminine.com/?p=4682

    ~ http://spacious-soul.livejournal.com


  2. on July 31, 2010 at 16:39 Breast feeding in the Early 19th Century from Jane Austen’s World Website «

    […] is from https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/breast-feeding-in-the-early-19th-century/ a blog that brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, […]


  3. on July 31, 2010 at 18:38 Porch Days

    This is a fascinating blog. I read some of the older posts. The one about the house painting is especially interesting.


    • on July 31, 2010 at 19:59 Vic

      Thank you! Your comment is most appreciated!


  4. on July 31, 2010 at 21:00 Six

    I thought Voltaire brought breast feeding into fashion, at least for a few decades. Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire breast fed some of her children, though the Cavendish family didn’t want her to–they wanted her fertile. I know Voltaire promoted it, and I thought it remained popular into the early 19th century. Fanny Burney–who was not wealthy, but certainly moved in high circles–breast fed her child. She stopped after she developed thrush and an infection in her breast, but she wasn’t happy about being forced to give it up. I know it came back into vogue during the Victorian era, though.


    • on July 31, 2010 at 23:23 Vic

      Thank you for the added details! There were many upper class women who breastfed their children; and I have found several paintings and caricatures to that effect. Will pursue the Voltaire connection.


  5. on August 1, 2010 at 20:22 Karen Field

    I always wondered why they sent their babies out. Who did the testing for taste when choosing a wet nurse?


  6. on August 1, 2010 at 23:38 Tweets that mention Breast feeding in the Early 19th Century « Jane Austen's World -- Topsy.com

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeanette McCulloch, Skye Amber. Skye Amber said: Breast feeding in the Early 19th Century « Jane Austen's World http://bit.ly/cDwwfP […]


  7. on October 3, 2012 at 00:36 Wet Nurses in the 19th Century | Michelle McCallum

    […] by French artists Marguerite Gerard (1761-1837) source This entry was posted in Nursing by Michelle McCallum. Bookmark the […]



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