Virginia,

<Waller was certainly earnest about breastfeeding, but there were gaps in his knowledge and hence his assumptions.>

But in many ways, he was way ahead of his time! And I am particularly impressed that he was making this headway during the years of the WW II London bombings when they sometimes had to evacuate the wards because of the bombing! I have one of his books somewhere too (in what I call my "study";-)

Many of those same gaps in knowledge, including not knowing about his work, were still in effect when I had my first clinical practice in nurses' training at the height of our WW II baby boom in 1948. My first service was OB, and my first "solo" night duty was a month on a postpartum floor. The breast swelling I observed and palpated when putting on binders at 72-96 hours then was not the same as the breast swelling I see at 72-96 hours now.
 
I believe there are still terrific gaps in our knowledge and our assumptions still today, when we now have an entirely different set of circumstances iatrogenic to breastfeeding initiation than was common in his day!
 
The particular different set of circumstances just haven't been recognized for what they are, nor researched appropriately yet. And apparently those capable of researching in the appropriate manner just haven't yet understood the need!


K. Jean Cotterman RNC-E, IBCLC
WIC Volunteer LC        Dayton OH

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome