Comments on: When a mother breastfeeds she is protecting her child from herself http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/ ...exploring the art and science of parenting Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: A pediatric bonanza! « Mainstream Parenting Resources http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1202 A pediatric bonanza! « Mainstream Parenting Resources Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:04:30 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1202 [...] to Annie for not entirely falling for this one, BTW. The title of her post could use some work though, [...] [...] to Annie for not entirely falling for this one, BTW. The title of her post could use some work though, [...]

]]> By: A veritable pediatric bonanza! « Mainstream Parenting Resources http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1201 A veritable pediatric bonanza! « Mainstream Parenting Resources Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:55:48 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1201 [...] to Annie for not entirely falling for this one, BTW. The title of her post could use some work though, [...] [...] to Annie for not entirely falling for this one, BTW. The title of her post could use some work though, [...]

]]> By: phdinparenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1187 phdinparenting Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:07:33 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1187 @Barbara I agree that would be interesting to see. I'm not sure if this study did that or not. The results are to be published next month in the journal <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news151931908.html" rel="nofollow">Pediatrics</a>. Certainly if the full results are available somewhere, I'd love to look at them more closely. In any case, we do know that there is a need to convince mothers in lower socioeconomic cohorts to breastfeed, for many reasons and it is also difficult to do for many reasons. I talked about that more here: <a href="http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/09/19/lactivism-and-the-homelessness-problem/" rel="nofollow">Lactivism and the Homelessness Problem</a>. @Barbara
I agree that would be interesting to see. I’m not sure if this study did that or not. The results are to be published next month in the journal Pediatrics. Certainly if the full results are available somewhere, I’d love to look at them more closely.

In any case, we do know that there is a need to convince mothers in lower socioeconomic cohorts to breastfeed, for many reasons and it is also difficult to do for many reasons. I talked about that more here: Lactivism and the Homelessness Problem.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1186 Barbara Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:55:00 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1186 I would love to see a study with a matched control group...that is, a group with equal risk factors (education level, socioeconomic background, etc.)...that looked at breastfeeding and its effect on neglect. This would help show if breastfeeding is in and of itself protective, or just "along for the ride" with other protective factors. I would love to see a study with a matched control group…that is, a group with equal risk factors (education level, socioeconomic background, etc.)…that looked at breastfeeding and its effect on neglect. This would help show if breastfeeding is in and of itself protective, or just “along for the ride” with other protective factors.

]]> By: babyREADY http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1179 babyREADY Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:53:54 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1179 I will chime in here and say that I, too, assume that the decrease in likelihood of a mother neglecting her baby if her baby is breastfed must come in part from the type of mother who would choose to breastfeed at all. I also think that there is a more substantial, emotional connection to our baby when we (breastfeeding mothers) are the only person who can completely tend to that child's most basic of needs. We know we are needed and we are hard-wired connected to that little individual. Our breastfed babies spend so much MORE time physically in our arms than the time their bottle-fed peers spent in the arms of their own mothers (regardless of what is in the bottle). It is therefore most likely that we know our children more intimately than anyone else can know a baby. We know the rhythm of their heart, the heat of their skin and the silkiness of their touch. I personally believe that this connection makes the bonds stronger and therefore less likely to be able to be broken via abandonment or neglect. I will chime in here and say that I, too, assume that the decrease in likelihood of a mother neglecting her baby if her baby is breastfed must come in part from the type of mother who would choose to breastfeed at all. I also think that there is a more substantial, emotional connection to our baby when we (breastfeeding mothers) are the only person who can completely tend to that child’s most basic of needs. We know we are needed and we are hard-wired connected to that little individual. Our breastfed babies spend so much MORE time physically in our arms than the time their bottle-fed peers spent in the arms of their own mothers (regardless of what is in the bottle). It is therefore most likely that we know our children more intimately than anyone else can know a baby. We know the rhythm of their heart, the heat of their skin and the silkiness of their touch. I personally believe that this connection makes the bonds stronger and therefore less likely to be able to be broken via abandonment or neglect.

]]> By: Cassie http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1178 Cassie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:47:04 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1178 I found this very interesting I would say that if a mother is choosing to breast-feed for the health of her baby it could show that she is more worried about her child's needs. (not saying that mothers that formula feed are not) I did both. I would also like to say that I was very young when I had Aiden and the local health department gave me pamphlet after pamphlet about how co-sleeping is bad and completely anti-attachment parenting. I would have been happier know more about attachment parenting. I am a little upset they don't educate people about different choices. sorry comment is so long :) I found this very interesting I would say that if a mother is choosing to breast-feed for the health of her baby it could show that she is more worried about her child’s needs. (not saying that mothers that formula feed are not) I did both. I would also like to say that I was very young when I had Aiden and the local health department gave me pamphlet after pamphlet about how co-sleeping is bad and completely anti-attachment parenting. I would have been happier know more about attachment parenting. I am a little upset they don’t educate people about different choices. sorry comment is so long :)

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1159 Cynthia Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:29:18 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1159 That was my thought as well - that it's not so much that breastfeeding prevents a mother from neglecting her child, but that the type of mother who chooses to breastfeed her child is less likely to be the type of mother who would neglect her child. That was my thought as well – that it’s not so much that breastfeeding prevents a mother from neglecting her child, but that the type of mother who chooses to breastfeed her child is less likely to be the type of mother who would neglect her child.

]]> By: jessyz http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1157 jessyz Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:05:08 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1157 I agree with Meagan, because I read someplace that women with higher IQ are breastfeeding more than others so it might also be related with not neglecting their children and being more concerned for their welfare. Yet, I still think there is an emotional factor where mothers feel that they are physically responsible for caring for their babies and that if it were not for them the baby would starve so it makes the bond stronger. I agree with Meagan, because I read someplace that women with higher IQ are breastfeeding more than others so it might also be related with not neglecting their children and being more concerned for their welfare. Yet, I still think there is an emotional factor where mothers feel that they are physically responsible for caring for their babies and that if it were not for them the baby would starve so it makes the bond stronger.

]]> By: Meagan Francis http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/01/26/when-a-mother-breastfeeds-she-is-protecting-her-child-from-herself/#comment-1156 Meagan Francis Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:56:06 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=983#comment-1156 I would expect that this effect is more correlative than causal, but I do think oxytocin makes much of early parenting that much more manageable and enjoyable :) I would expect that this effect is more correlative than causal, but I do think oxytocin makes much of early parenting that much more manageable and enjoyable :)

]]>