Freakonomics Radio 570. Is Gynecology the Best Innovation Ever?
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Dec 28, 2023 Cat Bohannon, an evolution researcher and author of "Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution," shares captivating insights into how the female body shaped humanity. She discusses the significance of mother's milk and its historical complexities, the impact of wet nursing on fertility, and the maternal-fetal dynamics likened to trench warfare. Bohannon also explores gynecology's evolution, its role in women's health, and the shifting social structures from matriarchy to patriarchy, all while weaving in personal reflections on feminism.
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Milk's True Evolutionary Purpose
- Mother's milk, beyond calories, offers crucial prebiotics.
- These prebiotics nourish beneficial gut bacteria, aiding digestion and boosting newborns' immune systems.
Colostrum Confusion
- Historically, colostrum, the initial breast milk, was viewed with suspicion.
- Some even suggested having wolves suckle it out, but colostrum is vital for newborns' health.
Male Lactation
- Male nipples are not vestigial; males can produce milk with hormonal signals.
- Trans women can breastfeed using the same protocol as cisgender women, producing biologically identical milk.
