I've been lurking for months. Just coming out to pass on something I heard
in an anthropology course from a female professor. She warned all the women
in the class not to believe all that stuff about the contraceptive values of
breastfeeding. Yes, it does tend to slow down resumption of fertility, but
not by years. She said in hunter gatherer cultures where children are well
spaced, its because of taboos against resuming sexual relations before the
baby is weaned. Mama doesn't get pregnant again when she's not letting Daddy
have sex. And yes, this can mean as much as three years without sex.

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----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Audette <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Wild boar: TB / Parasites no threat?


> According to Jared Diamond, the lower birth rate of HGs was
> a result of economic necessity, implemented by means of
> infanticide rather than by some physiological difference.
>
>   I suppose some peoples did. An early form of birth control, how
> interesting. They could have thought up other forms, like stoning. I know
> some animals practice infanticide, but can you tell us if any other
primates
> do? I heard chimps do, but the females keep the males at bay. If it does
> happen, it's more likely the alpha male, doesn't want the extra
competition
> around  Also, is the fertility of HG's the same as SAD's? Can't remember
> where or what study had the comparison. I thought there was one done.
There
> was a transitional period between the primate to human stage, when the
> menstruation cycle changed to what it is in humans today. That was caused
by
> birth canal size to infant head size, which led to a greater memory of
food
> sources which should lead to less economic necessity. Predators played a
> part too. We have alot of young and dumb kids today that die every day. HG
> kids got alot to learn before they can pass the rites of becoming an
adult.
> If HG's had as many kids as we do today, that would be alot of any one
> woman's children killed. There had to be other things that kept tribes to
> around 30-40 individuals. There's no logic to say that 2-3 kids out of 12
or
> more should be able to live. HG women would have to be less fertile or
able
> to say no alot. Perhaps some of the Lady's on this list know of some info.
> on this? All those woman taught me something!
>      `
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>