How does the concept of a wet nurse work? If continuously given a newborn while nursing a 2YO, does she continue to produce milk until there isn’t another baby?

Question

I also know that a nursing woman’s body can adapt the milk to provide for what the baby needs, but how does that work when the newborn needs a ton of stuff and the 2 year old needs something specific?

(I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction lately)

In: Biology

Answer 1

In general mammals do produce milk as long as it is being used. In fact a pregnancy is not technically needed to start milk production but will make it much easier. This is how you hear of people being a wet nurse even after menopause and even some men being able to nurse babies. The nutrition in the milk will change over time but this is not so significant as to provide with any big issues. But it is usually a good idea to let the baby feed of their mother after birth, especially the first feeding but also for a few days after that as well.