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Mrs. Pack
Mrs. Pack (died 1694) was a wet nurse to the infant William, Duke of Gloucester (1689–1700); she was believed indispensable to the boy's health, and because of that, came to exercise considerable control over the household of his mother, the future Queen Anne. She has been called a forerunner of the British nanny. Background After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed King James II of England/James VII of Scotland, Mary II of England came to the throne with her husband William III. The couple, first cousins, was childless. Her younger sister, Princess Anne, married to Prince George of Denmark, her second cousin, had repeatedly attempted to have children, but had had a succession of miscarriages and short-lived daughters. Were Queen Mary and Princess Anne to die childless, Parliament would have to make provision for the succession, as all other near heirs were Catholic and thus unacceptable. Should Parliament do so, its choice might not be seen as legitimate by some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wet Nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, or if she is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures, the families are linked by a special relationship of milk kinship. Wet-nursing existed in cultures around the world until the invention of reliable formula milk in the 20th century. The practice has made a small comeback in the 21st century. Reasons A wet nurse can help when a mother is unable or unwilling to breastfeed her baby. Before the development of infant formula in the 20th century, wet-nursing could save a baby's life. There are many reasons why a mother is unable to produce sufficient breast milk, or in some cases to lactate at all. For example, she may have a chronic or acute illness, and either the illness itself, or the treatment for it, reduces or stops her milk. This absence of lactation may be temporary or permane ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
