Breast-feeding
offers a host of benefits to both mother and baby, including
a stronger immune system for the baby and faster weight
loss for mom. There are even some known psychological
benefits from breast-feeding, such as a stronger parent-child
bond.
But British researchers have recently discovered another
mental bonus -- children who are breast-fed seem to cope
with stress and anxiety more effectively when they reach
school age.
In a group of almost 9,000 children between the ages
of 5 and 10, children who weren't breast-fed and whose
parents were getting divorced or separated were 9.4 times
more likely to be highly anxious when compared to other
children. But, children who were breast-fed as infants
whose parents were getting divorced were only 2.2 times
as likely to be highly anxious, the study found.
"Breast-feeding is associated with resilience against
the psychosocial stress linked with parental divorce/separation,"
the study's authors concluded in a recent issue of the
Archives of Diseases in Childhood.
The authors theorized that the physical contact between
mother and child in the first few days of life could help
form certain neural and hormonal pathways that affect
a person's ability to cope with stress later in life.
Breast-feeding experts have long been aware of the mother-baby
bond that occurs during breast-feeding. "There's a lot
less verbal communication, but lots of tactile communication
and eye contact that promotes positive physiological responses,"
said Liz Maseth, an outpatient lactation consultant at
Akron's Children's Hospital in Ohio.
"Breast-feeding does seem to suppress stress responses
in babies, and it does seem that there's a protective
effect," she said.
"In terms of the biological possibility, breast milk
is pretty amazing stuff, and the tactile interaction that
goes along with breast-feeding does have an influence
on the development of neurons," explained Judy Hopkinson,
an associate professor of pediatrics in the section of
nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Hopkinson added that babies who aren't breast-fed may
be able to reap similar benefits with lots of holding
and touching.
The study authors also suggested that the bond created
during breast-feeding might affect the way the child and
the mother interact, and that effect might be long-lasting.
Hopkinson pointed out that mothers who are successful
at breast-feeding often have a supportive social network,
which could also help lessen a child's stress in times
of crisis.
Whatever the reason for the association, it was clear
that children who had been breast-fed were less stressed.
Both Maseth and Hopkinson said it's very important to
try to begin breast-feeding as soon as possible after
birth -- no more than one hour. Maseth said this is because
the breasts contain glands that release the same scent
as amniotic fluid, a scent that babies will recognize.
"For most mothers, breast-feeding doesn't come naturally.
If the baby doesn't latch on, it can lead to feelings
of failure and concern about whether or not the baby is
getting enough milk. Women need lots of encouragement
and education," Maseth said.
"Don't give up, though, seek help" she advised, adding
that your baby's pediatrician will likely have information
on what local breast-feeding resources are available.
"Breast-feeding is something for mothers and babies to
enjoy. A time for them to cherish and nurture each other,"
said Hopkinson. For women who can't breast-feed, she said,
that skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby can
also help build a similar bond.
