Unusual Macaque Maternal Behavior

Interesting animal behavioral observation here.  Abstract:

Observations of animals' responses to dying or dead companions raise questions about their awareness of states of helplessness or death of other individuals. In this context, we report the case of a female Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana) that transported the body of her dead infant for 25 days and cannibalized its mummified parts. The mother appeared agitated in the first 2 days after the birth. She then took care of her infant's corpse, which progressively dried and became mummified. In a third stage, the mother continued to transport the corpse as it started disintegrating, and she gnawed and consumed some parts of the remains. Our observations suggest that mummification of the body favored persistence of maternal behaviors by preserving the body's shape. The female gradually proceeded from strong attachment to the infant's body to decreased attachment, then finally full abandonment of the remains.

Education, career, fun or baby

More and more frequently American women decide to have children later in life (beyond the age of 30). Higher education, building a career, the feeling of “not being ready” (emotionally or financially), or the desire to have fun are the likely reasons for late motherhood. 

The timing of becoming a parent is a very personal choice; however, I wish that the decision-makers had all the information before they decided…  I had my child in my mid-thirties; however, I would have had my baby earlier, if I had known all the risks of late pregnancy and late motherhood.

For the young women out there, here are some of the pros and cons of having a child in your twenties. 



Pros to having babies between 20 and 30:

• Pregnancy before age 22 decreases breast cancer risk (Schedin P. Nat Rev Cancer 6:281-91, 2006; Meier-Abt F, et al. Trends Mol Med 20:143-53, 2014; MacMahon B, et al., Bull World Health Organ 43:209-21, 1970; Polyak K. Cancer Cell 9:151-3, 2006.).

• Babies of younger mothers are healthier: with a lower chance of being premature, with low birth weight, or with genetic abnormalities.

• The women’s fertility is highest in the early 20s.

• At younger age, the risk of miscarriage is lower.

• Pregnancy is physically better tolerated by younger women.

• Younger women carry easier the physical demands of parenting.
  

Cons to having babies between 20 and 30: 

• The woman may need to postpone her education and/or career development

• Accumulation of debt: in their early 20s, recent college graduates still have college debt

• Frequently young mothers who go back to work earn less than their childless counterparts.

• Older mothers might be more emotionally mature for parenting.

• Pregnancies (especially at younger age) may increase the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers (Hankinson SE, et al. Cancer 1995; 76:284–290; La Vecchia C, et al., Int J Cancer 1993; 53:215–219; Titus-Ernstoff L, et al. Br. J Cancer 2001; 84:714–721). 

*Paternal age also matters. The sperm of older men tends to have changes in single genes (e.g., fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 and 3, RET proto-oncogene; Jung A, et al., Andrologia 35(4):191-9. 2003). Children of older fathers (45 and older) are also at increased risk of autism, ADHD, psychosis, bipolar disorder, suicide attempts, substance use problems, failing a grade, and low educational attainment (D'Onofrio BM, et al., JAMA Psychiatry 71:432-8; 2014).