Now here is an interesting study that was just published in the “February” issue of Pediatrics. An Australian study found that mothers who breastfed were less likely to neglect (abuse) their children. Does this mean that nursing mothers love their babies more?
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.
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