Using stable isotope analysis to examine the effect of economic change on breastfeeding practices in Spitalfields, London, UK

• Published in: American journal of physical anthropology Vol. 146; no. 4; pp. 619 - 628
• Main Authors: Nitsch, Erika K., Humphrey, Louise T., Hedges, Robert E.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.12.2011; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: 19th century; Adolescent; Adult; Anthropology, Physical; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - chemistry; Breast Feeding - economics; Breast Feeding - history; Breast-feeding; Carbon Isotopes - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Collagen - chemistry; Diet; Economic change; England; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; London; Male; Measurement; Methodology; Motherhood; nitrogen isotopes; Nitrogen Isotopes - analysis; paleodiet; Ribs - chemistry; Scientific research; Skeleton; Socioeconomic Factors; United Kingdom; urban; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weaning; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; London; Human; Urban environment; Weaning; Century 19th; Century 18th; Breast feeding; Nitrogen; Case history; nitrogen isotopes; Feeding; paleodiet; urban; Child; Isotopes

Breastfeeding patterns were subject to a number of fads in 18th and 19th century Britain. Feeding infants by hand, rather than maternal breastfeeding or wet‐nursing, became more prevalent among both the wealthy and poor. Substitute foods may have been a convenient alternative for mothers employed aw...