Thread: Ivan and Lizaveta. Please look over the translation.

Kib, I will answer your question with two others. Why do you think women of the upper classes didn't suckle their children but employed so-called wet nurses instead? And is it not true that milk accumulates in the breasts of women who have recently given birth and causes discomfort if not released? Your question should now be answered.

Originally Posted by Martin Miles

Kib, I will answer your question with two others. Why do you think women of the upper classes didn't suckle their children but employed so-called wet nurses instead? And is it not true that milk accumulates in the breasts of women who have recently given birth and causes discomfort if not released? Your question should now be answered.

I didn't know.

Originally Posted by Martin Miles

Why do you think women of the upper classes didn't suckle their children but employed so-called wet nurses instead?

I can think of at least three reasons:

1. The mother was unable to produce sufficient breast-milk (which can happen from a number of different causes).
2. The mother wanted to stop breast-feeding so that she could become pregnant again as soon as possible (лактация подавляет овулацию, "lactation suppresses ovulation").
3. The mother wanted to stop breast-feeding because she was extraordinarily vain and self-conscious about having milk-filled вымена ("udders").

But I really doubt that the average upper-class woman employed a кормилица ("wet nurse") for her baby specifically so that she could кормить взрослого мужчину своим собственным грудным молоком ("feed a grown man with her own breast milk") instead of giving the milk to her child!

Originally Posted by Martin Miles

And is it not true that milk accumulates in the breasts of women who have recently given birth and causes discomfort if not released?

Yeah, but you can basically massage the milk out -- it doesn't have to be sucked out.