Hello,
    Jean Cotterman describes the infant feeding patterns used in hospitals
in the 1940s/'50s, and the restricted duration of breast feeds.  As one of
the mothers of the period I interviewed for my research so beautifully
pointed out, the baby was whisked away before her milk ejection reflex could
occur in the hospital setting.  (That, of course, proved there was nothing
there.)  It was sad to have other mothers lament that they felt they had let
their babies down by never producing enough milk, or that their bodies just
didn't product the milk.  These were mothers whose babies were begun on
complementary bottles in hospital (a 10-day stay, later 7) and who valiantly
gave comps after breastfeeds for three months, before feeling they had lost
the battle.  Others continued this mixed feeding even longer.  For some, the
complementary bottle became a reassuring thing, in a culture where frequent
weighing and test feeds was given great emphasis.  Weighing and clock
watching were exalted to dogma status, and mothers were under pressure to be
"good motehrs".  The breastfeeding rate 1940-60 declined markedly, despite
(!) the encouragement given to brestfeeding.  The methods worked for a few,
who has vigorous babies and big breast storage capacities, but set the rest
up for failure.  Who would want to keep on failing at something, after all
the worry and angst of struggling with token breastfeeding?  No wonder the
rate declined.
     Sadly, a lot of us see some Mums who've been given some of the old
advice, even today, just when we think things are improving.  But that's
another story.
     It is difficult to estimate how many were exclusively breastfeeding in
postwar Queensland under the current definitions.  Not a lot.  Most gave
extras, e.g. vitamins, water, Vegemite (in water).  Vegemite is a very salty
preparation, saltier than Marmite, and was then even higher in sodium, but
it was given to Queensland babies to provide vit. B1.  It also raised fluid
needs, because of the sodium; and this was in a hot climate!
     Cheers,
             Virginia

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html