Mamels life animal

In the first hours and days after a human baby is born, mothers aren’t producing the white biofluid that typically comes to mind when we think about milk. They synthesize a yellowish milk known as colostrum or “pre-milk.” Colostrum is the first substance human infants are adapted to consume, and despite being low in fat, colostrum plays many roles in the developing neonate (1). Historically and cross-culturally, colostrum was viewed very differently than it is amongst industrialized populations today. Colossus Colostrum A colossus is not just something large, it can be “something of great power, influence, or importance.” Colostrum, the smallest drops for the tiniest tummies, effectively fits this definition because of its substantial effects on organizing the infant’s health, metabolism, and microbiome. At birth, babies are first appreciably exposed to maternal and environmental microbes while they have relatively naïve and immature immune systems.  During this neonatal per

On Thursday en route to Denver to hang out with some super awesome peeps during their Lactation Project Program Retreat, the newest study to be sensationalized in the manufactured, media-fueled mommy wars exploded across my twitter & facebook.  In a FB thread, Melanie Martin was making some great points so I invited her to write a guest post for Mammals Suck. Mammals Suck systematically supports moms, advocating for them to have ALL the options, be respected for whichever options fit their lives, and that ALL the options be better; better breast-feeding support, better formula, and the best breast milk science. This post addresses how the recent study does not necessarily deliver the best breast milk science. (in this case, ewoks might provide added value... for ONCE!) About Melanie, in her own words: "I’m a biological anthropologist who studies variation in breastfeeding, breast milk, complementary feeding, and infant health and development. I’m also a breastfeeding mom.&q