Breastfeeding Terminology

noun a very young child or baby

• The pediatrician specializes in caring for infant patients.
• My friend just had a beautiful infant girl.
• That infant is so cute, I can't even handle it!
• The company is still in its infant stage, with much room for growth.

noun the period of time during which a mother lactates to feed her young

• Lactation is the process of producing and secreting milk from the mammary glands.
• Breastfeeding is a natural form of lactation that provides important nutrients to babies.
• Some new moms find lactation to be a bit overwhelming at first, but it gets easier with practice.
• The lactation of ideas and creativity can lead to a flourishing of innovation in the workplace.

verb to feed a baby or young animal with milk from the breast or udder

• The newborn calf will instinctively suckle from its mother for nourishment.
• The baby is starting to suckle on his bottle all by himself.
• She suckled on that milkshake like there was no tomorrow.
• The small business had to suckle on loans to survive during the economic downturn.

noun a young mammal that is still feeding on its mother's milk

adjective relating to or characteristic of a suckling

• The suckling pig was roasted to perfection and served with a savory sauce.
• The little calf was suckling from its mother in the field.
• I heard that new restaurant really sucks at suckling pig dishes.
• The company was like a suckling pig, relying on its parent company for support and resources.

noun A nurse who breast-feeds another woman's child.

• In ancient times, a wet nurse was often hired to breastfeed and care for a baby.
• My friend's grandmother used to work as a wet nurse when she was younger.
• I heard that some celebrities hire wet nurses to take care of their babies.
• The government can be seen as a wet nurse, providing support and care for its citizens.

noun a slang term for a selfie taken while breastfeeding

• The celebrity posted a brelfie on her social media account to promote breastfeeding awareness.
• My friend loves taking brelfies with her baby to share with her followers.
• I can't believe she took a brelfie in the middle of the restaurant!
• His brelfie with the newborn symbolized the bond between father and child.