Parental Care in Mammals
How are mammals specialized to care for
offspring?PregnancyLactation
Paternal care in mammals
LACTATION
Providing nutrients to babies during the early stages of development after birth, via fluids produced by the (usually) mother’s body
Marsupial Mammals
Red Kangaroo Koala
Possum
Placental Mammals
Breastfeeding
Biological Risks of Not
Breastfeeding• For Baby
– Nutrition– Changes w/ needs
• Composition• Amount
– Immunity• Antibodies & Antivirals• Artificial baby food increases
risk of death from respiratory illness by 120X
– 3X more likely to die of SIDS
Biological Risks of Not
Breastfeeding• For Baby
– Nutrition– Changes w/ needs
• Composition• Amount
– Immunity• Antibodies & Antivirals• Artificial baby food increases
risk of death from respiratory illness by 120X
– 3X more likely to die of SIDS
Milk Composition
18%
27%55%
Human Milk
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
28%
31%
40%
Cows Milk
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
Biological Risks of Not
Breastfeeding• For Babies & Toddlers
– Nutrition– Changes w/ needs– Immunity– 3X more likely to die of
SIDS–Increased chances of allergies
–Increased jaw/teeth problems
–Slower mental development
–More likely to be fat adults
–Larger as babies
–Different kind of growth
Fat Babies
BabyAdult
Breastfeeding
Artificial food
Fat Baby≠ Fat Adult
6 months
32 months
Biological Risks of Not
Breastfeeding• For Mom– Hemorrhage – Uterus
returns to shape and size less quickly
– Weight loss slower– Increased chance of
diseases later in life• Breast & reproductive
cancers• Heart disease• High blood pressure• High cholesterol• Diabetes• Osteoporosis• Rheumatoid arthritis
– No lactational ammenhoria
Lactational Ammenhoria
• Note: Ecological breastfeeding means nursing on request– Baby always with mom– No schedule– Nursing whenever baby
wants
0-6 Months 6-12 Months
12-24 Months
Over 24 Months
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
7%
37%
48%
8%
Time period for return of men-strual period among moms who practice ecological breastfeed-
ing
Biological Risks of Not
Breastfeeding
– Babies bowels & spit smell– Takes time/ interrupts
sleep– Have to keep it
around/cost– Miss more work (sick days)– Environmentally unfriendly
• Also psychological and sociological risks
• For Mom– Hemorrhage – Uterus
returns to shape and size less quickly
– Weight loss slower– Increased chance of
diseases later in life– No lactational ammenhoria
Biological Problems with Breastfeeding
• Not good for moms using many drugs– Recreational
•Detox– Some Prescriptions.– Resource:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/index.html
• Not good if mom w/ TB, HIV• Not good for babies with galactosemia
• Environmental contamination and pollution– Most experts still recommend
breastfeeding!• Also can be psychological and social problems
Gradual Weaning
Siamung (Ape)
How long humans Breastfeed
• Solids introduced ~ 6 mo, my mom says “if they can grab it off your plate, and they wont choke on it, let them have it … they’ll tell you when they’re ready”
• American Academy of Pediatrics: exclusive for 6 mo, “at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired”
• WHO/UNICEF: at least 2+ yrs• Natural age 2.5-7 years
–Modern range 1 (Samoans)-7 (Inuit) years
• Worldwide Average 4+ years• For more info, check out
www.lalecheleague.org
PATERNAL CARE
While mammal moms are primarily responsible for pregnancy and lactation, dads in many mammals play important roles in caring for their infants and babies.
Paternal Care in Mammals
• Pregnancy – no known examples
• Lactation – Dayak fruit bats– Regularly in some human
cultures– Many individual examples
in humans.
Male Lactation Websites
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/miscarticles/milkmen.html
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/malelactation.html
http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/08/fact-men-can-breastfeed.html
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/man-milk-its-re/#more-1366
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=strange-but-true-males-can-lactate&sc=rss
http://web.archive.org.nyud.net/web/20040909091015/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n2_v16/ai_16051177
http://web.archive.org/web/20040612183349/http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_700634.html
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/malelactation.html#nursing
Paternal Care in Mammals
• Lactation – Dayak fruit bats, some human cultures
• Other (monogamous) species– Protection– Food– Incubation– Cleaning young– Play
DADS!
Paternal Care of Infants in Mammals• Lactation – Dayak fruit bats,
some human cultures• Other mammal species
– Protection, food, incubation, cleaning, play
• More human contributions:– Skin-to-skin time– Singing– Sleeping– Bathing– Diaper changing (mom in, dad
out)– Supporting Mom & baby
bonding & breastfeeding– Maintain Mom’s sanity– Co-discipline– Moral and financial support