Diane:  Think about how the great apes carry their babies.  When the baby
is very young mom (or another "caregiver" in the social unit) carries the
baby clasped baby's front to her chest.  I've seen older great ape babies
(in the zoo only) riding on mom's back spreadeagled or partially
spreadeagled in the prone position grasping mom's hair in the fists. In
either position, baby is not on it's back.  So, I think great apes (who are
most similar to humans)position themselves and their young in ways similar
to the lower orders of mammals.  I take this behavior to mean that prone
positions are most natural for all mammals, as well as non-mammals.  Think
turtle on it's back.

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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