Sunday night I watched the 2 hour show "Neanderthal" on PBS not once but
three separate times. The dramatization is based on anthropological
theories derived from findings at various digging sites over Southern
Europe.

The "energy cost" of breastfeeding for 5 years was described as a heavy
liability on the clan to feed the mother, especially as she would not be
able to do her full part in the food gathering and other work, for the
full 5 years, implied from the script!

The mother was pictured sitting uncomfortably, awkwardly trying to push
her baby's head toward her chest, the baby's legs up in the air
interfering with drawing him close, and the baby fretting the whole
while. In fact, I had my doubts that it was a real baby.

Meanwhile the mother looked worriedly everywhere but at the baby,
especially at the dominant female in the clan, who reached out and took
the baby and walked silently back to the rear of the cave (near the rats
and the carcasses shown earlier), and disappeared.

This was apparently to tie it in with their conclusion that fossil
evidence showed that the "problems for the clan" posed by childbearing
and breastfeeding were often "cured" by infanticide. Any wonder they died
out?

So much for breastfeeding promotion!

Kathy D., did you see it? I'd be curious to hear your reaction.

Jean
**********
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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