Breastfeeding?

Question

Back in the old days, before formula was invented, what did moms do if their child did not latch on, but they were allergic to milk?

Answer 1

If the mom herself couldn't nurse (no milk, mom died, mom was seriously ill or something) then they had another woman nurse their child. A relative or maybe hired a wet nurse.

They tried until they got baby to latch on.

They hand expressed their milk.

There were "bicycle pumps" to express milk, but not sure how long ago those became common.

Answer 2

THIS INFO RIGHT HERE HELPED ME SO I COPIED IT FOR YOU HOPE IT HELPS DON'T GIVE UP YOU WILL GET IT I PROMISE

Very careful, supportive positioning can be very helpful when baby is having problems breastfeeding; for example, a cross-cradle hold or a modified football hold can be useful.
If your baby is tolerating it, then work on latching for up to 10 minutes or so. If baby is getting upset, then go with shorter sessions. It's not a good idea to keep trying for more than about 10 minutes - after this baby will be tired, latching will be harder, and there is a risk of baby developing an aversion to the breast if you persist too much.
Don't continue trying to get baby to take the breast after major frustration (either mom's or baby's) sets in; stop for a bit and calm baby (and/or give mom a break) before continuing - let baby suck on a finger, or snuggle baby high up between mom's breasts, or hand baby to dad.
Sometimes it can be helpful to offer a little supplement at the beginning of a feeding; this can take the edge off baby's hunger so he has more patience to work on the breastfeeding. If you've been working on latching and hunger is getting in baby's way, go quickly to whatever alternative feeding you're using. If you're both totally frustrated, give a whole feed, but if you think your baby is up for it (and you are too), only offer enough supplement to calm him and go back to working on breastfeeding.
If baby does not latch or does not suck effectively (or won't sustain a suck for more than 3 sucks even with breast compressions), then either try supplementing at the breast (see below) or stop and offer baby a little supplement (1/2 ounce or so of expressed milk or formula), and then have another try at nursing. If the second try is unsuccessful, then go ahead and finish up the feed with whatever method of supplementation you are using.
Any time that baby does not nurse at all, or nurses but does not soften the breast well, pump after feeding baby. This will help to maintain your milk supply, plus you will have some "liquid gold" available the next time baby needs a supplement

Answer 3

If latching on is the only problem then expressing would work. Possibly goats milk or going way back, those who could afford it would have wet nurses. A nanny for the child that would also do the breastfeeding.

Answer 4

They used goat's milk or a nursemaid. In Germany, they had soy powder and mixed it with distilled water. Allergies back then probably weren't as common especially to milk. Nowadays, we are causing allergies by manufacturing, processing and altering food that our bodies shouldn't have like trans fats for example. Everything was all from the farm back then with no pesticides.

Answer 5

My doctor said that most kids weren't allergic to milk...some are lactose intolerant, but they could tolerate the cows milk because it wasn't pasturized. The pasturization process cooks out the enzymes that help those sensitive to lactose digest the complex milk sugar.

Answer 6

They kept trying and obtained the advice of older, wiser moms who had tips and tricks for these situations. Most babies will eventually latch on if the mom has enough patience to keep trying. Back then, if you couldn't get the baby to latch on, the baby died...so most moms were pretty persistent.

Answer 7

they were so self sufficient my mom was too poor and they did not have powder ilk in Bethlehem so she breast fed us we had to learn and she has 9 kids and myself so that is 10 kids also we had to drink goat milk it was free my grama owned them,i guess mom always said god is big

Answer 8

Goat's milk, or a nursemaid. Women still use them today.

Answer 9

If you were rich, or had a relative, they were wet nursed - or died. I have a sneaking suspicion that people did not have "allergies" until quite recently.

Answer 10

Feed Them Grass