A while ago a mother I know lent me a Victorian era parenting book she'd found at a book sale.
There is a chapter on breastfeeding with some crazy advice ("Let the mother remember never to nurse an infant when she is frightened, angry, or other disturbed condition...mental excitement affects the milk like deadly poison.") and even stranger language for dispensing it.
I thought it would be fun to see if you can figure out what the following descriptions of different breastfeeding problems would mean, translated into 21st century English. Leave your guesses in the comments section.
Condition #1: "Taking cold, from carelessness in not covering the breast while nursing, is a frequent cause of gathered breast...The first symptom of severe gathered breast is a decided chill; the more severe the gathering, the longer the chill lasts. Sharp, lancinating pains accompany the shivering."
Condition #2: "Milk Fever: After a first confinement, the breasts are apt to be swollen, painful and distended for the first two or three days. They should be rubbed every four hours with pure olive oil."
Condition #3: "Sore mouth of infants: Several forms of this affection are known...the mouth may be spotted here and there."
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