What is an allomother?
Masai Mara 2009
In 2009 I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya and go on safari in the Masai Mara with my husband. While observing the female elephants I noticed how the tightly knit group of females would all participate in the care and protection of the young. Their behavior inspired me to do more research on the mother/infant relationship. What I discovered is that a pregnant elephant will select females in her group, often related, to help raise and protect her calf. These females are called 'allomothers' and are unable to have a baby of their own at the time. Because the calf has limited survival instincts, they rely on their elders to teach them. The allomothers watch over the calf so the mother can rest and eat the massive amounts of food she needs to produce rich milk. The allomothers protect the vulnerable calf from being hunted and killed by predators and poachers. The experience the allomothers gain by helping to raise the calf provides them with valuable knowledge when it is their turn to become mothers. Calves that have many allomothers watching over them are more likely to survive and develop into healthy adults.
Source: "Elephant - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Elephant#Reproduction_and_life_cycle>
I realized that these allomothers are much like postpartum doulas, caring for the mother and baby so that the mother can be physically and emotionally nurtured.
I returned back to Africa in 2011 to Amboseli National Park, home to one of the largest elephant populations. Once again, I spent many hours captivated by these massive creatures and in awe of their gentleness, camaraderie, and devotion to caring for the young of the herd. Imagine if human mothers and their infants received such exceptional care during the postpartum period!
I was so inspired observing them and the experience reinforced my firm belief that all women deserve the support of a doula, or in the case of an elephant, an allomother.
Source: "Elephant - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Elephant#Reproduction_and_life_cycle>
I realized that these allomothers are much like postpartum doulas, caring for the mother and baby so that the mother can be physically and emotionally nurtured.
I returned back to Africa in 2011 to Amboseli National Park, home to one of the largest elephant populations. Once again, I spent many hours captivated by these massive creatures and in awe of their gentleness, camaraderie, and devotion to caring for the young of the herd. Imagine if human mothers and their infants received such exceptional care during the postpartum period!
I was so inspired observing them and the experience reinforced my firm belief that all women deserve the support of a doula, or in the case of an elephant, an allomother.
Herd of female elephants including mothers, allomothers, and calves. Amboseli National Park 2011
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Phone: 215-962-1862
Website: www.allomotherdoula.com
www.buxmontbreastfeeding.com
Serving PA (Bucks/Montgomery Counties) and NJ (Mercer/Hunterdon Counties) since 1996
Copyright © 2010 Theresa Wrublesky Doula Services. All Rights Reserved.
Phone: 215-962-1862
Website: www.allomotherdoula.com
www.buxmontbreastfeeding.com
Serving PA (Bucks/Montgomery Counties) and NJ (Mercer/Hunterdon Counties) since 1996
Copyright © 2010 Theresa Wrublesky Doula Services. All Rights Reserved.
