Motherhood and Infancy

Question 1

function of hemochorial placenta

Answer 1

• give sugar, oxygen and nutrients to baby
• placenta penetrated more deeply as primates evolved
• cells can jump from mom–>baby
• close blood supply
• placental antibody transfer

Question 2

Placental antibody transfer

Answer 2

• maternal IgG (antibody for flu) passes through trophoblast and fetal endothelium into infant blood supply
• after 3 months, baby can make its own IgG but it’s a slow process after mom’s supply is cut off

Question 3

when do you vaccinate a baby?

Answer 3

• after 3 months of age
• infant has memory of antibody from mom’s blood supply
• infant is overwhelmed when first born - need antibodies right at birth

Question 4

how does baby get antibodies after birth?

Answer 4

through breast milk

Question 5

which primates have the least amount of adult antibodies? most?

Answer 5

• least: galago
• most: human
• more antibodies given before birth, more antibodies will be present in baby after birth (premature babies lose some of this antibody protection; get sick more)

Question 6

transplacental iron transfer

Answer 6

• half from placenta

- half from breast milk (this is not very effective; if it’s the only one, babies/monkeys can still become anemic)

Question 7

what are the stages for an infant to get iron deficiency anemia

Answer 7

• low transfer (from mother to child)
• low iron stores (iron needed for post natal growth is low)
• iron deficiency anemia

Question 8

evolution of motherhood

Answer 8

• egg laying mammals
• viviparous mammals (placental)
• alticial - prococial (developed)

Question 9

which type of species has prolongation of pregnancy and nursing?

Answer 9

• k-selected

- also females have a higher investment than males

Question 10

squirrel monkeys

• how long do they nurse?
• what is that called?

Answer 10

• 6 months

- lactational amenorrhea

Question 11

what do you do to make nursing work as birth control?

Answer 11

-NURSE CONTINUOUSLY

Question 12

species variation - nesting

-which type of primate?

Answer 12

prosimians

Question 13

species variation - twins

-which type of primate?

Answer 13

-new world monkeys: marmosets and tamarins

Question 14

species variation - aunting

• which type of primate?
• what is aunting?

Answer 14

• squirrel monkeys

- other females help out mom (older daughter, mom’s sister)

Question 15

species variation - baby passing among females

• which type of primate?
• what else can happen?

Answer 15

• langurs

- if female is dominant, she may take the baby from its actual mother

Question 16

species variation - male carrying for protection

• which type of primate?
• what is it?

Answer 16

• some gibraltar macaques

- protecting other monkeys who won’t attack if they’re holding a baby

Question 17

species variation - baby parking

Answer 17

-smaller prosimians

Question 18

birthing patterns and child care in larger prosimians

Answer 18

• single births

- baby rides on mom continuously from birth

Question 19

species variation - paternal care

-which species

Answer 19

NW monkeys: marmosets and tamarins, titi monkey, owl moneky

Question 20

maternal selective bond

Answer 20

-maternal motivation to care only for the child they birth

Question 21

what happens if selective bond is broken

Answer 21

-agitation reaction to involuntary separation

Question 22

how did selective bond come to be?

Answer 22

• permissive hormones: prolactin and oxytocin (facilitating hormones)
• birthing process: C-section may result in rejection of child
• socialization: help in raising children
• elicitors

Question 23

how does a mother know its her baby?

Answer 23

• size
• smell
• natal coat: different color coat at birth
• cute response
• distress calls
• neoteny

Question 24

what does the baby bring to the relationship

Answer 24

• grasping/clasping
• rooting/suckling
• negative geotropism
• tools

Question 25

negative geotropism

Answer 25

-babies like to keep their head up

Question 26

cute response

• who discovered it
• what is it

Answer 26

• Konrad Lorenz

- we like babies because they’re cute

Question 27

3 stages in mother-infant relationship

Answer 27

support and love–>ambivalence–>rejection and babies become independent

Question 28

what age does rejection typically occur?

which primate is the exception?

Answer 28

• 6-7mo

- chimpanzees: 2-3 yrs because they’re not as strong so the moms have to hold on to kids more (also true for bonobos)

Question 29

other things mothers do

Answer 29

• make sure child is not in danger
• play with child
• source of emotional security

Question 30

what happens when source of initial security is not present?

Answer 30

-children have a harder time becoming independent

Question 31

imprinting

Answer 31

-infant learning process

Question 32

perceptual learning

Answer 32

-familiarity with something in 1 context can increase change of avoidance in another context

Question 33

affect of distress on rhesus monkeys (reading)

Answer 33

• depression
• hunched posture
• reduction in locomotor activity

Question 34

Neonatal Imitation in Rhesus Monkeys

Answer 34

• emergence of social behaviors early in life is necessary for development of mother-infant relationships
• imitative gestures are not unique to apes and humans
• they have communicative functions
• gestures: lip smacking, tongue protrusion, mouth opening, hand opening and opening/closing eyes

Question 35

Stress diathesis/generic vulnerability

Answer 35

-certain variants of key behavioral genes make people more vulnerable to mood, personality or psychiatric disorders

Question 36

Dandelion children vs orchid children

Answer 36

• dandelion: normal

- orchid: need care to bloom, but go bad if not cared for