Wet nurse

woman employed to breastfeed and care for another's child

A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds and cares for someone elses child. In ancient times this was very common, partly because many women died in childbirth. Many babies died so women were available to do this. Wealthy people would pay women to do this.[1]

Since infant formula was invented this has become much less common.

References

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  1. O'Reilly, Andrea, "Wet Nursing," Encyclopedia of Motherhood (2010): 1271