On 14/2/03 1:03 PM, "Automatic digest processor"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Cynthia at first I thought it wasn't necessary to reply to your post, as
intrinsically, I have no argument with most of the comment. However, I was
not entirely sure of the "thrust" of your post (indeed I may have
misinterpreted it)
> The act of observing an event has often been shown to change the event,
> which leaves me wondering how a breast's experience of ultrasound changes
> what the breast does during breastfeeding.
This is a really important issue to raise in all research. Although widely
discussed, this effect has never precluded us from undertaking research (in
any field, scientific or behavioural). I am a little confused regarding the
meaning of your comment. Are you saying because of this effect (the extent
of which is difficult to measure) we shouldn't undertake this research, or
having undertaken the research, we cannot accept it as valid, or simply that
it is important to acknowledge this effect?
> Ultrasound is used
> therapeutically for many reasons--because it causes some kind of desirable
> change.
>The images we see via ultrasound may, therefore, not entirely
> represent what happens in the breast in the absence of ultrasound.
There is a significant distinction between therapeutic ultrasound and
diagnostic ultrasound, so I donšt believe this comparison can be used to
support the premise that diagnostic ultrasound will cause an interaction
between the observer and the observed.
>Just as the images of ducts and sinuses derived from autopsy and injected wax
> may not entirely represent the structure of the living breast. What types of
> changes do cells, tissues, and organs experience, in general, when they are
> exposed to ultrasound? The answers to such questions must be taken into
> account when the results of research using ultrasound to image the breast
> in its so-called "natural" lactating and breastfeeding state are
> interpreted. The experience of ultrasound by breasts is not a natural part
> of lactation or breastfeeding.
Certainly your point is correct, that it is possible the external effects of
observing the changes may not entirely reflect the "reality of the living
lactation" but some methods of observation will interfere less than others.
As an a priori assumption in undertaking the ultrasound research the
researchers have accepted the assumption that there is no detectable effect
of diagnostic ultrasound on what they are currently measuring, (ie MER, duct
diameter, presence of glandular tissue, volume taken and response of the
infant stomach and infant suckling and oral anatomy) - because to the best
of our knowledge there is nothing in the literature at this place and time
to support that an interaction between the observer and the observed exists
(in this case).
Consequently, over many observations we are happy with the validity of the
results until such time further research might challenge this underlying
assumption. All studies in all fields must make assumptions before the
research is undertaken, and of course, make these assumptions known.
As an example, Woolridge's ultrasound studies of suckling remain currently
valid, indeed much of what we have based our current attachment and
positioning practices and suckling knowledge relies on his work in this
area, until such time further research questions its validity (hence my
comment in a previous post - "the jury is never in").
We must make a start somewhere, and it is my belief that observation by
ultrasound (in this instance) of the living lactating breast is a step up
from the post mortum examination of excised tissue.
Warm regards
Cathy Fetherston
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