19 October 2009

Prolonging Nursing

Moran states that “Nomadic hunter-gatherers such as the !Kung must keep their numbers low if the resources on which they rely are to be naturally renewed” (2008, 207). Prolonging lactation and cultural taboos on intercourse during lactation are mentioned in contributing to the reduction in fertility and also to the low growth rate of the !Kung population. However, the low number in population for ensuring resources are naturally renewed are not the only justification for prolonging nursing.

According to Konner and Shostak, “Life expectancy is approximately 32 years, determined mainly by high infant mortality-between 10 and 20% in the first year, almost all due to infectious disease” (1987, 12). Frequent nursing and late weaning can positively contribute to the overall health of an infant and its chance at survival. The benefit of nutritional stability is provided for a long period of time and will fight the high morbidity and mortality rates. Another benefit includes maximizing the number of surviving offspring by holding back fertility and ensures an adequate or optimal amount of time is between each birth. Prolonged nursing also guarantees frequent delivery of antibodies and macrophages to the infant’s gut to combat enteric microorganisms. In addition, the closeness between the mother and infant support the transfer of culturally stored knowledge and also allows the mother to develop antibodies against microbes encountered by the infant. The close mother and infant proximity is a cultural choice, however, selective forces such as hunger in the infant and disease also play a factor in prolonging nursing (Konner and Shostak 1987).

References:
Konner, Melvin and Marjorie Shostak. 1987. Timing and Management of Birth among the !Kung: Biocultural Interaction in Reproductive Adaptation. Cultural Anthropology, Vol. 2, No. 1, Biological and Cultural Anthropology at Emory University (Feb., 1987), pp. 11-28. Published by: Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the American Anthropological Association. http://www.jstor.org/stable/656392

Moran, Emilio F. 2008. Human Adaptability An Introduction to Ecological Anthropology. New York: Westview.

2 comments:

  1. This is an interesting topic that you chose to write about, but I like it. It's interesting that you mention how drinking ones mothers milk is better in the long run, because in all reality breast milk is full of vitamins and nutrients which an infant needs. Breast milk helps with brain growth, body development and other things. However, I never knew it could help one live longer... I would have drank more of my mommy's milk :)

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  2. This is a topic that I find interesting these days, for personal reasons.

    I grew up on my "mommy's milk" until I was a year old. My mom tells me that I was the size of a two-year old by then. This is probably due to my genotype interacting with my environment which was getting as much nourishment possible, resulting in a robust phenotype.

    Hopefully, current and future moms will understand the health reasons for putting out like a cow for as long as possible, since it is more likely to result in hearty children.

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