Draft:Elsie Mobbs

Dr Elsie J. Mobbs was an Australian researcher and psychologist who made significant contributions to the field of early childhood development, particularly in the area of biological imprinting in mammals. Her groundbreaking work on oral tactile imprinting and its influence on breastfeeding success has had a lasting impact on our understanding of infant behavior and mother-child bonding.

Early life and education

Mobbs was born in Adelaide, South Australia on December 18, 1935 to Marion Golding and Lesley Gale. She spent much of her childhood in Waikerie. Dr Mobbs studied at Macquarie University and pursued a career in psychology and research, focusing on early childhood development and maternal-infant relationships. She gained her PhD from the Medical Faculty at the University of Sydney.

Research career

Mobbs' research career was marked by her innovative work on biological imprinting in mammals. In 1989, she became the first researcher to describe this phenomenon in detail, laying the groundwork for future studies in the field.

Discovery of one teat preference

Through extensive literature reviews, Mobbs identified a consistent pattern of one teat preference across various mammalian species. This discovery suggested a universal biological mechanism underlying infant feeding behavior.

Oral tactile imprinting

Mobbs' primary research culminated in identifying that human imprinting was primarily oral and tactile in nature. She proposed that newborn infants have a sensitive period in the early hours of life during which they can orally fixate on the mother's nipple and surrounding areola, learning its tactile characteristics.

Role of Merkel cells

In her research, Mobbs highlighted the importance of Merkel cells in the buccal mucosa of infants. These specialized cells were hypothesized to provide the oral tactile recognition necessary for identifying the milking area of the breast, which was crucial for evolutionary survival.

Latchment theory

Building on her imprinting research, Mobbs developed the concept of "latchment". This term describes the first stage of emotional development in infants, based on the successful achievement of biological imprinting. Latchment represents an emotional bond between the infant and the orally imprinted object, often described as having the "mother in the mouth".

Evolutionary perspective

Mobbs' work emphasized the evolutionary significance of imprinting and latchment. She argued that these processes were crucial for infant survival, facilitating successful breastfeeding and strengthening the mother-infant bond.

Impact on breastfeeding research

Mobbs' research has had significant implications for understanding breastfeeding success and challenges. Her work suggested that displacement of the biological imprint to a decoy, such as a thumb or pacifier, could potentially lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and infant.

Legacy

Mobbs' work continues to influence research and practice in the fields of pediatrics, psychology, and lactation. Her insights into the mechanisms of imprinting and latchment have provided a foundation for understanding early infant behavior and its impact on long-term development.

The concepts she introduced, such as oral tactile imprinting and latchment, remain relevant in contemporary discussions of infant care and breastfeeding support. Her research has implications for practices surrounding early mother-infant contact and the potential risks of introducing artificial nipples or pacifiers in the early postpartum period.

Personal life

Mobbs was married to Westmead Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Tony Mobbs. Together, they presented their work at conferences around the world and contributed to the field of early childhood development. Elsie Mobbs is the mother of entrepreneur/neurosurgeon Ralph Mobbs who was the first surgeon in the world to implant a 3D printed spine part, and mother-in-law of world leading sports neurologist Dr Rowena Mobbs.

References

• J. McKenna and L.T. Gettler (2016) There is no such thing as infant sleep, there is no such thing as breastfeeding, there is only breastsleeping. Acta Paediatrica. January 2016 (Volume 105, Issue 1, pages 17–21) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26295452/
• Mobbs, E. J., & Mobbs, T. (2013). From Birth to Bowlby. The Marcé Society Conference Abstracts.
• Mobbs, E. J., Mobbs, T., & Mobbs, A. E. (2016). Imprinting, latchment and displacement: a mini review of early instinctual behaviour in newborn infants influencing breastfeeding success. Acta Paediatrica, 105(1), 24-30.
• Mobbs, E. J. (2015). Imprinting, latchment and displacement influencing breastfeeding success. Acta Paediatrica.
• The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast work referred to in the 'Breastsleeping' episode by Dianne Cassidy, (IBCLC).
• Mobbs, E. J. (2011) Latchment Before Attachment: The first stage of emotional development - oral tactile imprinting. G.T.Crarf.
• Mobbs, E.J. (2010) Short Stature and the Relationship to Male Mental Health in Nass, R.D. Frank, Y. (Eds.) Cognitive and Behavioural Abnormalities of Paediatric Diseases.(pp.108-119) Oxford University Press.
• Mobbs E. Thumbsucking and mammalian one-teat preference. ANZ J Psychiatry 2007;41(Suppl 2):A351.
• Mobbs E. Thumb-sucking and dummy-sucking: evidence for human imprinting. Breastfeeding Medicine 2007;2(3):188.
• Mobbs EJ. Human Imprinting and Breastfeeding; Are the textbooks deficient? Proceedings, 16th Annual Society for Psychosomatic Aspects of Reproductive Medicine. Pokolbin, NSW, March 1989.
• ES Çağan, E Solmaz, R Taşkın, A Ekşioğlu1 (2024) The Effect of Mother’s Breastsleeping Behavior on Attachment and Postpartum Sleep Quality, Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2024;27(11) pp.1293-1299
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.13161
• https://journals.lww.com/njcp/fulltext/2024/27110/the_effect_of_mother_s_breastsleeping_behavior_on.11.aspx
• https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/206020584/Full_text_PDF_accepted_author_manuscript_.pdf
• https://nd.academia.edu/JamesMcKenna
• https://www.dieta.sk/breastsleeping-laktospanok-novy-termin-v-slovniku-mamiciek/
• https://www.dojcenie.eu/2020/05/breastsleeping-laktospanok/
• https://www.lllfrance.org/vous-informer/fonds-documentaire/dossiers-de-l-allaitement/2162-da-152-allaitement-sommeil-infantile-et-maternel-et-mort-subite-inexpliquee-du-nourrisson