mammal (noun): warm-blooded higher vertebrates that give birth to live young, nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands, and have the skin usually more or less covered with hair
I’m a mammal. You’re a mammal.
Beyond our luscious hair, our ability to give birth to live young and nourish them with milk are the characteristics of our biology that make us different from… fish, or spiders, or anemones.
I honestly forgot that. Which is silly, considering I’m a biologist and biologists love describing and categorizing things.
I’m a mammal who’s pretty aware of my own brain, my own body, and the general blueprint of being a human.
I thought.
When I first got pregnant, I was sidelined by the realities.
Brain? Gone.
Body? Hijacked.
Appetite? Poof.
Hair? STUNNING.
huh.
This time around, I’m documenting the journey. From bump to baby and in between, my goal with this series is to share the realities of what a human pregnancy looks like.
I know too much about the science, have witnessed birth in a ton of species other than ours, and am gearing up to do it all over again.
I love and hate living inside a case study, so I figured I should share it.
Come on, strap in, and join me on what promises to be an adventure.
👋🏻 Meet your Monkey Girl
Hi, I’m Allison aka Monkey Girl—a published author, PhD scientist, and trusted book editor.
I’m reclaiming my story, one chapter, one essay, one monkey at a time. Read my romcom Love Letter to Wanderlust, and keep your eyes peeled for my 👣 Path to Published series.
My latest and loudest series to date is BIG. DUMB. MAMMAL. where I’m sharing all the details of pregnancy, from the perspective of a biologist living this process in real time.
When I’m not typing away at my computer, I’m usually on a plane with my husband and toddler, or defending my three very patient cats from said toddler.
Thanks for being here, truly. If you have thoughts, questions, anything, send me a message. I read every word and I’d love to hear from you.
Photography by the brilliant c.m.elle studios.