Experts for years have stated that the presence of the mother is crucial to the development of her baby. This fact is usually ignored today in a world which values the mother in the workplace, but it needs to be heard.
Separation of mother and baby is commonly promoted in our society. After all, they say, babies must learn to be independent. The baby should not cling to its mother. Babies should learn to feed themselves with a bottle, pacify themselves with a pacifier, and sleep for the duration of the night. This form of parenting, when it works, is very convenient for the parents, especially the mother who thinks she needs time to do other things.
But is this what nature intended? Does God have anything to say about this in his plan for mothers and babies? Are mother and baby one unit or are they to be treated separately? Is the mother as physically close to her baby during breastfeeding, especially during the early years, as she is during pregnancy? Is there a natural biological oneness during breastfeeding as there was during pregnancy?
Many breastfeeding experts have stated YES to the last question, that breastfeeding is a continuation of pregnancy. The only change is that the baby is now outside the mother’s body.
There are three physiologic similarities between the two: pregnancy and breastfeeding.
1) With both, the baby is physically close to the mother. With breastfeeding the baby is often carried on the mother’s body or is in her arms, but now both can interact with each other.
2) As with pregnancy, the breastfed baby is still receiving all his nourishment from his mother and this lasts for about 6-9 months. After that time when other foods are slowly taken by the baby, the baby still receives much of his nutrition from his mother.
3) The mother remains in amenorrhea (no menstruation) during breastfeeding as well as during pregnancy. Normally a mother receives more months of amenorrhea from breastfeeding than she does from pregnancy if she is follow the natural mothering program, i.e., the Seven Standards of eco-breastfeeding.
Enjoy this card.
Next week: BF and the early years
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor, 2008
Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing, 2008, classic 1974 edition
Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, 2005
www.nfpandmore.org
I remember hearing somewhere that the human species was a “carrying species” and that the infant was meant to be carried around by the mother. Indeed, the human infant cannot walk for about a year. So, it made perfect sense to me to carry my babies or have them nearby so that I could meet their needs with this perfect “tool”, the breast. The quickest and easiest way for me to meet my baby’s needs for sleep, sucking, eating, and comfort was to offer the breast.
I also had heard the breast compared to the placenta. It was said that there was much physical and emotional growth that needed to be done after birth. The breast was the intended supplier of the food for that growth outside the womb, just like the placenta had done continuously inside the womb. Why would I want to limit that growth, be it emotional or physical, and not offer the breast? It was said that IF the baby could have stayed in the womb for nine more months of brain growth, that it would…but then birth would be impossible for a baby at nine-month size!
I found your “seven standards” when my first baby was about four months old. I was easily and naturally already doing a lot of it but I did then tweak up my breast feeding patterns with your information. It was then only with hindsight that I saw how I was already eco-breastfeeding. I wound up having 14 months without an ovulation. This closeness to my baby, the oneness you refer to, benefitted me, as well as the baby who grew well.
I think your new book, The Seven Standards, is a very complete treatment of this information and I thank you for writing it. Many other women will also be thankful the information which is presented very succinctly. I think it would make a good gift for any pregnant mom.
Sheila – thank you for this. I have been distracted from my usual reading and participating online regarding ecological breastfeeding due to the diagnosis of my mother with cancer (following on the heels of my son). But I want you to know that I am still so appreciative of your work here.