Having read a good deal of breastfeeding literature, including titles by Dr. Sears, I have learned that breastfeeding, as an aspect of mothering, is an activity that encourages and enhances a mother’s ability to mother.  In my own experiences as a breastfeeding mother, I have found that this theory holds up  (although I must be honest and admit that while  breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding activity for mother and child, during those most difficult nights of marathon nursing with little or no sleep, a mother is at the mercy of her spouse, partner, or whoever is available to help her stay positive, breastfeed her baby, and get some sleep).

Now there is more scientific proof that breastfeeding encourages a positive relationship between mother and child.   According to a study conducted by a team at Warwick University and published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology,

“[S]pecialised neurons in the mothers’ brain start to release the hormone [oxytocin] from the nerve endings.  [In addition] [b]ut surprisingly oxytocin is also released from the part of the cell called the dendrite which is usually the part of a neurone which receives, rather than transmits information.  Using a mathematical model, the researchers worked out that this release from the dendrites allows a massive increase in communication between the neurons, co-ordinating a “swarm” of oxytocin factories producing intense bursts of the hormone.”

Because oxytocin encourages feelings of trust and confidence, and helps to reduce fear, a mother who breastfeeds benefits from experiencing a greater maternal urge to love and care for her baby.

For breastfeeding mothers, this study only confirms what many lactating mammas already know to be true.  What I wonder is whether or not oxytocin can benefit women who have trouble breastfeeding but who feed their babies formula while positioning their bottle feeding child against a bare breast.  Perhaps mothers who bottle feed can benefit from the release of oxytocin too, even if they experience a slow milk letdown or none at all?  I am curious and eager to learn more about this aspect of mothering.  I would encourage anyone who has more knowledge about breastfeeding as well as bottle feeding to please enlighten me [us--as in all who are interested in this topic] by please leaving a comment to share your thoughts and wisdom.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under Attachment Parenting, Baby, Breastfeeding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.