Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wet Nursing.......

Jeannie made an interesting comment about the practice of wet-nursing in 19th century France. I found an interesting article here that you might find compelling which discusses infant mortality rates and why people often chose wet nursing. It's pretty short and informative and also discusses the practices of 'nursing in' versus 'nursing out' ; but because in our day and time this has so fallen out of favor, it does give some helpful insight. Do you think Emma Bovary was unable to nurse her own daughter or thought it way beneath her to do so?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

That link didn't work-

dmvoccola said...

I think it was unfashionable for women of wealth to breastfeed their own, and it was just another way in which Emma attempted to live like somebody she was not.

dmvoccola said...

Fixed the link! ;)

edie said...

Thank you girls! And I think you're right Denise.

Pam said...

Hello Ladies,
Wet nursing was common place for people who could afford it, not only in europe, but also here in the USA especially in the south, during the "Antebellum years" 1820-1860. It was even accepted that race was an unimportant qualification, hence, it was common place to have african american slaves wet nurse white babies. Kinda makes you think, people were segregated from using a water fountain, yet inter-racial wet nursing was accepted???

dmvoccola said...

Now that's an interesting bit of information, Pam. I had no idea! I once nursed my very good friend's baby while she was taking a continuing ed course, and I was not doing so well in the keep-her-baby-happy-for-two-hours department. She was such a gentle nurser compared to my darling Tessa! Anyway, it was very weird, and I felt a bit guilty. I wasn't sure what my friend would say--seemed like I crossed a personal line or something. She actually just laughed, thankful for the break! I would feel so uncomfortable with a complete stranger nursing my baby! Times have changed--probably a good thing!

Jeannie Jett said...

Thank you for this awesome article! I did some quick research but this was better than anything I found. Initially I thought Emma "didn't want to be bothered" with her baby but after the research I did and reading this article, I think she was probably just doing what society expected of her. It was interesting to me, after watching the BBC movie version of Madame Bovary, that even Charles (a doctor) felt it very necessary for the baby to be with the wet nurse.
I could definately go for "wet-nursing" inside the home!! Oh, how I wished someone else could pop out a boob when my little girls needed feeding in the middle of the night.
HMMMM-this custom may come back in favor. Especially when you think of the popularity of breast feeding vs. bottle over the last 10-15 years. There are a few breast milk banks in the US now (the first one was established as far back as 1911 in Boston). Maybe one day you'll be able to order it over the internet!!-just kidding. You can't order it online secondary to the "bodily fluid" restrictions (yes, I'm laughing as I type this). I read that breast milk is sold for as much as $3.00 an ounce!

Our Recipes

Our Recipes
Baked Brie

Baked Brie

1 Whole Wheel of Brie
1 Sheet Puff Pastry or
1 Sheet Regular Pastry
3 T Orange Marmalade
1 egg for glaze



Bring the Cheese and Pastry to room temperature.
Do not remove the rind from the Cheese
Place the Marmalade on the center of the pastry.
Place the Brie in top of the Marmalade.
Wrap the Pastry around the Brie, use a small amount of a water wash to help the Pastry adhere to itself.
Invert the wrapped brie on to a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper and coat with the egg wash.
At this point the Baked Brie can be stored in the refridgerator for up to 4 days, when you are ready to finish the cooking of the Brie, pre-heat your oven to 350', bring the Wrapped Brie back to room temperature, place in the hot oven and cook for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Do not serve immedistely, but place on your serving platter and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
Serve with Crackers or French bread

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Cordon Bleu
Chicken Cordon Bleu

This recipe can be served as an entree or cut into bite size pieces as an Hor'sD'oeuvre

Awaiting recipe

Petite Fours and Croissant

Petite Fours and Croissant
Petite Fours

Petite Fours and Croissant

Recipe to be submitted

Mini pickled Okra sandwiches

Mini pickled Okra sandwiches

Mini Pickled Okra Sandwiches

This recipe can be made up to 2 hrs in advance, due to the Cream Cheese acting as a barrier and preventing the Bread from absorbing the liquid from the Pickled Okra--simply make your sandwiches, cover them with a slightly damp piece of paper towel , then some Saran Wrap and refridgerate for up to 2 hours. The Cream Cheese mixture also works well with Cucumber Sandwiches.

1 Loaf of Bread
8 oz cream cheese
2 T Dill.Herb Spice Mix (Tastefully Simple)
1 Jar of Pickled Okra
Bring the cream cheese to room temp and add the Spice mix.
Remove the crusts from the bread and roll out with a rolling pin.
Take 2 pieces of bread apply some of the cream cheese add the Okra cut in to desired shapes and serve.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Recipe to be submitted

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

This recipe is dangerous, Why? because you are only 5 minutes away from Chocolate Cake at any given time of day.

4 T Flour
4 T Sugar
2 T Cocoa
1 Egg
3 T Milk
3 T Oil
# T Chocolate Chips (otional)
a small dash of Vanilla Extract
1 Large Coffee Mug

Add all of the dry ingredients to the mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and again mix well. Add the chocolate chips ( if using ) and vanilla extract, after you have mixed well, place the mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1,000 watts ( high ). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, do not be alarmed! Allow the cake to cool a little and then invert on to a plate. This recipe can serve 2 ( if you want to feel slightly more virtuous ).
Recipe by Tina Faust