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Article: Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding'
(The Telegraph, London, 23 August 2003 - old article but I hadn't read it
before) Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding' By Roger Highfield and Paul Stokes Babies in medieval England fared as well as their modern counterparts because of extended breastfeeding by their mothers, according to tests on bones found in an abandoned village. Lengthy breastfeeding was recommended by the classical Roman writer Soranus in the 1st century AD, which influenced medieval physicians. Now it seems this advice was heeded by medieval mothers in Yorkshire who shielded their young from early death by suckling them for up to 18 months. The first scientific study of breastfeeding habits in medieval England has found that otherwise malnourished peasants used breastfeeding to avoid contaminated food and water, and this also helped the babies' immune systems. Dr Simon May, of English Heritage's Centre for Archaeology, Portsmouth, led the research using bones excavated at Wharram Percy in the Yorkshire Wolds, one of about 3,000 villages abandoned between the 11th and 18th centuries. He said: "Peasants faced a terrible daily struggle for existence, yet extended breastfeeding shielded children from the very high levels of infant mortality we might otherwise expect to see. Infant mortality at Wharram Percy was much lower than one might expect. "Indeed, while being breastfed they grew as well as modern babies. But when it stopped, the environment made its baleful impact, producing slow growth and widespread disease." Researchers at Bradford and Oxford universities have used new techniques to analyse nitrogen isotopes in the bones. Breast milk contains specific amounts of these, compared with other foods. Using the bones of 80 individuals, they were able to deduce the length and extent of weaning. By the age of about six to nine months, with mothers incapable of producing sufficient milk, babies' diets were supplemented by solid foods. Nevertheless, partial breastfeeding mitigated against the effects of contaminated food and water until children were over 18 months old. Dr May added: "Stunted growth really started after this point." Growth rates of children at Wharram Percy suggest conditions were worse than those of Victorian workhouse children. Earlier studies revealed that the population was afflicted by Black Death, rickets and leprosy. |
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Article: Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding'
"Rosie" wrote in message ... (The Telegraph, London, 23 August 2003 - old article but I hadn't read it before) Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding' By Roger Highfield and Paul Stokes Babies in medieval England fared as well as their modern counterparts because of extended breastfeeding by their mothers, according to tests on bones found in an abandoned village. Lengthy breastfeeding was recommended by the classical Roman writer Soranus in the 1st century AD, which influenced medieval physicians. Now it seems this advice was heeded by medieval mothers in Yorkshire who shielded their young from early death by suckling them for up to 18 months. The first scientific study of breastfeeding habits in medieval England has found that otherwise malnourished peasants used breastfeeding to avoid contaminated food and water, and this also helped the babies' immune systems. Dr Simon May, of English Heritage's Centre for Archaeology, Portsmouth, led the research using bones excavated at Wharram Percy in the Yorkshire Wolds, one of about 3,000 villages abandoned between the 11th and 18th centuries. He said: "Peasants faced a terrible daily struggle for existence, yet extended breastfeeding shielded children from the very high levels of infant mortality we might otherwise expect to see. Infant mortality at Wharram Percy was much lower than one might expect. "Indeed, while being breastfed they grew as well as modern babies. But when it stopped, the environment made its baleful impact, producing slow growth and widespread disease." Researchers at Bradford and Oxford universities have used new techniques to analyse nitrogen isotopes in the bones. Breast milk contains specific amounts of these, compared with other foods. Using the bones of 80 individuals, they were able to deduce the length and extent of weaning. By the age of about six to nine months, with mothers incapable of producing sufficient milk, babies' diets were supplemented by solid foods. Nevertheless, partial breastfeeding mitigated against the effects of contaminated food and water until children were over 18 months old. Dr May added: "Stunted growth really started after this point." Growth rates of children at Wharram Percy suggest conditions were worse than those of Victorian workhouse children. Earlier studies revealed that the population was afflicted by Black Death, rickets and leprosy. Cool! I thought this was about the group, Medieval Babes... but interesting none the less |
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Article: Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding'
Lina wrote:
Cool! I thought this was about the group, Medieval Babes... but interesting none the less Glad I'm not the only one : ) -- tristyn www.tristyn.net "i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. i do not think that they will sing to me." |
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Article: Medieval babes 'thrived because of breastfeeding'
"iphigenia" wrote in message ... Lina wrote: Cool! I thought this was about the group, Medieval Babes... but interesting none the less Glad I'm not the only one : ) -- This made me dig out my albums... lady I miss those girls |
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