As a result of Stella Onion's sterling work on championing normal term
nursing in the UK media this week, I'm now involved in a variety of
discussions on the phenomenon of the atrophied suckle.
Of rather, am involved in discussions about if it exists, first and
foremost, and if it does, how does it work.
On the 'pro' side:
Mothers report their nursling cannot effectively empty the breast as
they reach an 'end' point, and therefore feel all nursing will end as
the ability to do so, is lost.
There is an absence of evidence that nursing continues on until the
'bitty' moment, from recorded history. Whilst accounts of 12/13 still
nursing exist, these could easily be a) children of poor generational
nutrition who have not matured to the point a robust 'modern' 8 year old
might have today or b) comfort nursing, not milk heavy nursing (and no
way of finding out which)
On the 'anti' side:
Well, in absence of actual evidence of the mechanism, then surely there
is none - surely it's cultural to end at some point, even if it's only
between mother and child.
On the possible causes:
Adult teeth growing in changing mouth shape (as cited this week by Stella)
Tongue motion somehow changing.
So, in other words, a huge big puzzle! With no doubt, no research in
any direction.
Pour your wisdom and references upon me wise ones! Does this house
believe in a natural atrophy point, or not? And if it does, how does it
happen? One wonders how/when primates wean....
Morgan Gallagher
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