Psychology

Breastfeeding value for the support of effective normal growth and infants development as well as development of young children is today recognized worldwide. Much of literature today that promotes this act of breastfeeding mainly focuses on the physical benefits especially the transfer of immunity and nutrients. However, apart from the physical benefits associated with breastfeeding, this act also plays a critical role in parents-infants attachment, health child development and brain development. Scientists and researchers have recently discovered that breastfeeding could play a protective function against SIDS or the sudden infant death syndrome. This is because breastfeeding leads to an increase in attentiveness and interactivity with the children at all times. Breastfeeding also have a hormonal value on both the mothers and their infants. Some of the hormones that are released during breastfeeding include prolactin and oxytocin, essential for building attachment in human beings and animals.  Breastfeeding is also essential for soothing, calming and relaxing children and it is also a way of showing love to them. As such, breastfeeding plays a vital role in mother-infant attachment and bonding (Palmer, n. d).

Role of breastfeeding towards mother-infantchild attachmentbonding
The positive impact associated with breastmilk on the development and growth of children is widely recognized and accepted around the world today. However, the act of breastfeeding entails more than just nutrition provision. The suckling act at the breast impacts both the mother and the child. Unfortunately, it is the most misunderstood aspect relating to motherhood today. Many people especially mothers lack basic knowledge on breastfeeding and the depth of its impact on their bonding or attachment to their children. Social, medical and cultural interventions over the past decades have modified practices of child care leading to most mothers being unable to breastfeed their own children. Traditionally, it was believed that breastfeeding and an innate psychology that helped mothers and children become closer or bond. It was also believed that breastfeeding had something to do with the latter behaviour of a child especially pertaining to relationship issues. However, scientific revolution in our current and modern society has changed these norms and fewer women are willing to breastfeed their infants. Formula milk and other milk supplements have replaced the natural mother milk. The effect of this is reduced mother-child attachment and bonding which have crept into our society (Davis, 1999).

Researchers have established various important aspects associated with breastfeeding and mother-child attachment. One of the major factors that bring about mother-child attachment is the care a child receives during his or her infantry stages. The cuddling a child obtains from the mother is important in developing trust between the mother and the child hence improving attachment. A child has protection needs which in most cases are satisfied during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding helps in claming the baby and providing them with analgesia. This is evident by the reducing in metabolic rates and reduced heart as well as the reduction in pain perception ability during suckling. Various reasons have been formulated to explain the analgesia and calming effects that accompany analgesia. To begin with, breast suckling stimulates the oropharyngeal tactile of the baby as well as the mechanoreceptors. It helps the attention to be focused on the mouth thus reducing other outside influences helping a child to calm down.

Secondly, after suckling, the intestinal fat adsorption from milk by the baby stimulates or fastens the release of cholecystokinin hormone which in turn triggers afferent vagal mechanism. This mechanism helps in relieving pain and inducing relaxation. The third effect of breastfeeding emanates from the sweet flavour of breast milk. This flavour activates opioids release in an infants midbrain (Derbyshire, 2008). Opioids then acts on receptors leading to a reduction in pain perception. Fourthly, during breastfeeding, there is skin to skin maternal contact associated with blood glucose levels stabilization, stabilization of respiration rates and body temperatures and also stabilization of blood pressure. Lastly, breastfeeding helps in formation of a social interaction between a child and the mother that is intimate. This intimate relationship may help in stimulating the release of oxytocin, an anti stress hormone to the body stream of a child thus leading to a calming effect (Gribble, 2006).

The analgesia and relaxation mechanisms brought about by breastfeeding work synergistically and it lasts for as long as there is occurrence of breastfeeding. This may be essential in reducing sudden infant death syndrome. All these hormones released during breastfeeding especially during the first three months after birth helps in building attachment during this period, known as the undiscriminating responses phase. During this period, the brain of an infant is at the development phase trying to control and organize its physiological behaviour and state. Through breastfeeding, a mother becomes attached to the baby, and in turn helps the baby to regulate its body via responding to comforting messages which occur during breastfeeding. Children who are breastfed feel secure and they experience love leading them to build trust in their mothers which is essential in creating strong attachments (Gribble, 2006).

Mothers are also impacted by breastfeeding exercises. While most women in the current or modern world are afraid to breastfeed so as to avoid sagging of the breasts, researchers have established a direct relationship between the behaviour and physiology of mothers influenced by oxytocin, cholecystokinin and prolactin hormones released during breastfeeding. During breast suckling, there is skin to skin contact between the mother and the child leading to the release of oxytocin. This hormone helps in milk ejection from myoepithelial cells found in the breast thus allowing a child to extract milk. This hormone also has an effect on the central nervous system of the mother. It leads to behavioural and physiological changes. This hormone has also been known to be important in maternal behaviour expression in some mammals although in human beings the research is still underway. Another effect on oxytocin hormone on the mother is that it helps in reduction of stress as it is an anti stress hormone. Prolactin hormone during breastfeeding originates from the pituitary glands and it is as a result of nipple stimulation which occurs during suckling process (Gribble, 2006).

Prolactin hormone is involved during the production of milk and it is believed that it acts on the mothers central nervous system thus influencing and promoting development of maternal behaviour. It also helps in reducing the responsiveness of stress and is has analgesic effects. The behaviour that a mother develops immediately a child is born is essential in determining the level of attachment that she is to have with his or her baby. Oxytocin, cholecystokinin and prolactin hormones are essential in development of maternal behaviour characterised by maternal affection. According to child experts and scientists, act of breast suckling by a baby changes the behaviour of a mothers brain especially due to the oxytocin leading to enhancement of affection, love and trust feelings in a mother towards her child. Oxytocin hormone commonly referred to as love hormone released during breastfeeding is essential in strengthening the mother-child bond (Derbyshire, 2008).

Breastfeeding has also been found to increase responsiveness of mothers to their children, an issue attributed to the above mentioned hormones released during breastfeeding. Scientists also attribute this to increased physical contact that occurs between the mother and a child during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding entails close and frequent physical contact between an infant and his mother. According to some researches, women involved in breastfeeding their babies seek for greater proximity with them. Skin to skin contact between an infant and his mother increases the desires of a mother to hold and be with her child. The more time a mother spends with his or her child, the greater the bonding and responsive caregiving. This in turn increases the babys security and trust towards his or her mother hence increasing attachment (Palmer, n. d).

Conclusion
Breastfeeding has various important factors leading to mother-child attachment. Unlike in the past where breastfeeding was a normal and natural thing for nursing mothers, breastfeeding has become an issue of debate today with most women shunning away from it. Breasts have become an issue or a symbol of femininity with women seeking to avoid breast sagging brought about by breastfeeding. Lack of clear understanding on the importance of breastfeeding in creating strong bondage between the mother and the child has led many women to shun this exercise and the result is less child-mother attachment. Breastfeeding leads to release of various hormones associated with effective growth of a baby, trust development, affection and love and maternal behaviour, all of which increases mother-child attachment. Mother-child attachment as a result of breastfeeding is an important topic which ought to be taught to all people in our society today.