How did breast feeding work before the invention of formula?

by joec85

As I await the arrival of my first child I'm learning a lot about breast feeding and the challenges that many women face with it. Either they have a baby that's bad at latching or their supply never comes in adequately or any number of other issues come up that prevent feeding properly. How did society deal with this problem before the invention of other foods for babies? I can't imagine the baby was just left to die. What did a widowed dad do if his wife died in childbirth?

Holy_Shit_HeckHounds