Mothers and medicine : a social history of infant feeding, 1890-1950 / Rima D. Apple.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Apple, Rima D. (Rima Dombrow), 1944-

Series:

Wisconsin publications in the history of science and medicine ; no. 7.

Wisconsin publications in the history of science and medicine ; no. 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Breastfeeding--United States--History--19th century.

Breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding--United States--History--20th century.

Infants--Nutrition--United States--History--19th century.

Infants.

Infants--Nutrition--United States--History--20th century.

Mothers--United States--History--19th century.

Mothers.

Mothers--United States--History--20th century.

Physician and patient--United States--History--19th century.

Physician and patient.

Physician and patient--United States--History--20th century.

Physicians--United States--History--19th century.

Physicians.

Physicians--United States--History--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 261 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Madison, Wis. : University of Wisconsin Press, 1987.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In the nineteenth century, infants were commonly breast-fed; by the middle of the twentieth century, women typically bottle-fed their babies on the advice of their doctors. In this book, Rima D. Apple discloses and analyzes the complex interactions of science, medicine, economics, and culture that underlie this dramatic shift in infant-care practices and women's lives. As infant feeding became the keystone of the emerging specialty of pediatrics in the twentieth century, the manufacture of infant food became a lucrative industry. More and more mothers reported difficulty in nursing their babies. While physicians were establishing themselves and the scientific experts and the infant-food industry was hawking the scientific bases of their products, women embraced "scientific motherhood," believing that science could shape child care practices. The commercialization and medicalization of infant care established an environment that made bottle feeding not only less feared by many mothers, but indeed "natural" and "necessary." Focusing on the history of infant feeding, this book clarifies the major elements involved in the complex and sometimes contradictory interaction between women and the medical profession, revealing much about the changing roles of mothers and physicians in American society.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Table and Figures

Acknowledgments

Introduction. Infant Feeding in the Nineteenth Century

I. "The Grand Prerogative of Woman

Part One. Infant-Feeding Theories and Infant-Food Products

II "Establishing the Rules for Substitute Feeding," 1890-1915

III "A Rational Means of Feeding the Baby," 1915-1950

Part Two. Infant Feeding in Medical Practice

IV "For Humanity's Sake," 1890-1910

V "Under the Supervision of the Physician," 1910-1950

Part Three. Scientific Motherhood

VI "The Noblest Profession," 1890-1920

VII "The Doctor Should Decide," 1920-1950

Part Four. Mothers and Infant-Feeding Practices

VIII "A Word of Comfort," 1890-1920

IX "Count on Bottles," 1920-1950

Conclusion. Infant Feeding in the Twentieth Century

X "According to Your Own Preferences

Journal Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliographic Essay

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Bibliography: p. 247-251.

ISBN:

9786612268861

9780299114831

029911483X

9781282268869

1282268864

OCLC:

294963357