Breast Milk on Tap

Lactating nannies are making a comeback in the United States and are in demand by the Hollywood elite.

Wet nursing, the practice of using a woman to breast feed a baby that is not her own, dates back to ancient times and is still practiced in many cultures. In the past, royalty and members of higher classes would have their children wet-nursed so a woman could become pregnant again sooner, to ensure an heir. Practice in the U.S. declined with the introduction of formula milk in the early 1900s.

The rise in breast implants is adding to the wet nurse demand. The cosmetic surgery procedure can interfere with breast tissue and milk ducts, and thus impair the ability to produce milk.

With a standard fee of $1,000 a week, more and more women are finding employment as wet nurses, often moving from one infant to the next. The legendary wet nurse Judith Waterford was reportedly still producing breast milk on her 81st birthday in 1831.