Definition, synonyms and related words
The activity of feeding a baby or young child milk from the breast of a lactating woman.
"After returning home, she spent her evenings breastfeeding their newborn son to help him gain weight."
In plain English: Breastfeeding is when a mother feeds her baby milk directly from her body using her breast instead of bottles or formula.
"Many hospitals now offer classes that help new parents learn about breastfeeding."
Usage: Use this noun to describe the act of nursing an infant directly, distinguishing it from bottle-feeding which uses formula or expressed milk. It is often paired with terms like "support" or "rights" when discussing maternal care policies and social norms.
present participle of breastfeed
"The new mother was breastfeeding her baby while sitting on the porch."
In plain English: Breastfeeding is when a mother feeds her baby milk directly from her own body using her breast.
"Many mothers choose to breastfeed their babies for several months after birth."
The word breastfeeding is a straightforward compound formed by combining the words breast and feeding. It entered English simply to describe the act of nourishing an infant with milk from their mother's chest.