<<<Is breastfeeding instinctive? There is a discussion on a multiples list I am
on and they are debating whether or not breastfeeding is an instinct, even
if it is something that needs to be learned.>>>

I've understood breastfeeding isn't instinctive in higher graded mammals as
humans and apes are. It is learned behaviour on the mothers part. If an ape
isn't breastfed herself, and she hadn't been exposed to nursing babies she
simply doens't know what to do. She picks up then baby but doesn't put it
to the breast and the baby dies.

Annelies

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