In a message dated 5/9/0 12:29:00 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< Since no other lactating animal continues to nurse throughout a pregnancy,
I
think that it is our optimal nutrition and life without dangers (we are
neither starving at intervals, nor afraid for our lives on a daily basis)
that allow for pregnancy and lactation to occur simultaneously.  I no longer
think that it is either normal or natural.  But it is possible, without
causing harm to any of the participants.
 >>
I know that several others mentioned that kangaroos tandem nurse and I would
highly doubt they are the only other mammals who routinely do so. (I do
remember seeing a program about primates --can't remember the species--in
which a mother tandem nursed an infant and adolescent.) I do think you are
right that our state of relative safety and access to food does make it safer
to tandem nurse. But, could it be that Western diets, contaminated at the top
of the food chain, very high in artificial environmental estrogens, with
excesses of harmful fats and too little good fats and too much insulin
production make it difficult for many women to have normal fertility, which
might include pregnancy and lactation simultaneously? Would comparing to
other mammals even make sense, since our young have the longest periods of
dependency of all mammals? If we are to have multiple offspring, we pretty
much have to have them while our prior offspring is still dependent.
Interesting question, IMO.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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