Breastfed Infants Are Less Likely to Be Neglectedby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 27 Jan 2009 12:42 PM
Now, before we discuss this issue, I want to make it clear that no one is assuming that if you formula feed then you are automatically neglecting your baby. I am very pro breastfeeding and nursed all three of my children into toddlerhood, but I understand that there are many factors that influence a mother's decision on how to feed her child, one big one being that we don't do enough to support the practice in our society. Not being able to breastfeed your child doesn't automatically make you a neglectful parent (if it did, dads would be in trouble). But, that said, the statistics and findings of the study are very interesting, along with the conclusions and theory on the found results. Women (7,223 in total) and children were followed for 15 years by the scientists who discovered that the longer a woman breastfed her child, the less likely that the child would be neglected. The study took the proper steps, eliminating other factors such as socio-economic status, substance abuse and depression that might also influence the risk of neglect. Neglect is defined as a mother (or caregiver) failing to provide what an infant needs, from physical requirements such as food and hygiene, to emotional requirements, such as holding, touching, eye contact and love. Neglect can lead to poor development, attachment issues and even death in infants and children. We already know from previous studies that breastfeeding positively influences the mother-child bond by stimulating the production and release of oxytocin, the so-called bonding hormone that helps develop an attachment relationship between mother and baby. Neglect of a child usually occurs when there is a breakdown in that bond. Nursing or even extended nursing may naturally reinforce the maternal-child bond. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Related Articles: How to Find Places to Nurse in Public Nursing Leads to Stronger Lungs Study Finds Link Between Depression and Premature Babies Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments  ruthann8 (6378) 27 Jan 2009 01:04 PMHere is my theory. A neglectful parent is less likely to have a good bond with there child b/c that bond would cause them to feel remorse when they neglected there child. I think neglectful parents were probably neglected themselves and don't now how to bond or how that bond is supposed to feel. There are many was to develop a bond with your child and breastfeeding is one of those ways. Like you said, neglect can lead to attachment issues, which just continues on the cycle. I can also see how someone with attachment issues can use breastfeeding to help her learn to bond with her child b/c of the release of the bonding hormone and the closeness you have with the baby.  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 27 Jan 2009 01:14 PMThat is an interesting theory. So perhaps in certain cases breastfeeding might even be prescribed by a doctor. Samual (11722) 28 Jan 2009 08:13 AMI personally will have a to disagree on this as our oldest son was breastfed by his mother but she also believed trying to beat him to death was a good idea.  Kara |
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