Taboo Science
Breastfeeding (with Bridget McGann & Sascha Mayer)
Jun 1, 2023
Lactation scientist Bridget McGann and Mamava co-founder Sascha Mayer discuss the mysteries of breastfeeding, breastmilk components, breastfeeding versus formula feeding, workplace support for pumping, and the importance of normalizing breastfeeding in society.
34:23
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Quick takeaways
- Lactation predates dinosaurs, evolving from sweat glands to specialized mammary glands over millions of years.
- Breastfeeding nurtures deep bonds and influences cognitive development through unique components in human milk.
Deep dives
Evolution of Lactation
Around 250 to 300 million years ago, a creature excreted fluid onto its eggs using sweat glands, a primitive method that eventually evolved into lactation. The transition from these double-duty glands to specialized mammary glands took millions of years. Dr. Bridget McGann, an anthropologist, delves into how lactation behavior interacts with biological evolution and cultural practices.
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