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