Research Indicates That Breastmilk Shapes Human Psyche

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The nutritional and physical health benefits of breastfeeding are obvious, the psychological effects of breastfeeding on the child and the mother are often never discussed. Studies suggest that breastfeeding impacts children’s brain and socio-emotional growth. In a mother, breastfeeding influences mood, affect, stress, and care. This article explores a broad overview of existing findings on the psychological effects of breastfeeding, highlighting the important role that breastfeeding plays in the psychological growth of a child, the potential mechanisms that underpin the effects.

Breastfeeding is the “gold standard” food source in the first months of a newborn’s life. The World Health Organization recommends at least six months, which is defined by breastmilk as the only source of nourishment. In addition to being a critical nutritious ingredient to the infant, breastfeeding is not simply a meal but also has significant and lasting effects on the behaviour, and mental health of children.

In one such study, a higher frequency of breastfed meals and the duration of breastfeeding during the first year were found to be positively associated with measures of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development including memory, language, and motor skills at 14 months and 18 months of age. Importantly, these cognitive benefits of breastfeeding seen in infancy have been shown to endure into childhood and adolescence.

In addition to the effects on children’s cognitive and brain development, there is evidence that breastfeeding also has an impact on social and emotional growth in children. There is work that suggests breastfeeding experience is associated with differences in infant temperament. As an example, a 3-month-old breastfed infant is reported to show negative effects than formula-fed infants. Similarly, bad temperament like fussiness has been found to be with a prolonged duration of breastfeeding during infancy. On the other hand, another study found that breastfed infants were reported to have more vigor at 3 months, characterized by a greater approach, than babies who are formula-fed.

Research indicates a negative association between breastfeeding experience and aggression in behavior. For eg, the duration of breastfeeding experience has shown to correlate negatively with parent-reported antisocial behavior in children from 4 to 10 years of age. These effects on antisocial behavior appear to outstretch well beyond infancy into adulthood. A study following adults from 21 to 45 years of age found significantly greater amounts of hostile behavior in adults who were not breastfed as infants compared to those who were breastfed.

In conclusion, breastfeeding is a significant indicator of a child’s personality. Where all their cognitive-behavioral patterns depend on how long they were breastfed and how they were breastfed. In the end, a mother’s love will make you who you are.

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Courtesy the liberalisation in the 90s as well as an increase in travel by youngsters in the naughties, Indians are now increasingly aware of cultural events across the globe and have also adopted some of them. Father’s day is one such occasion dedicated to fathers. In our country, during festivals, we celebrate the mother- ‘maa’ – be it Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi or Mary. We also celebrate mothers as part of other festivities as an acknowledgement of all the lovely food and arrangements they organise. Father’s day is a rare occasion when we celebrate our fathers.

People born in the 60s and 70s might recollect that fathers were essentially just providers. They hardly spent time with children and were generally distant but ensured that all the bills were paid, and everyone was comfortable. Modern fathers are equally nurturing if not more, they are protective of their children especially girl children, yet they do not stifle them. Isn’t it then imperative that we celebrate our fathers? Our heroes? They deserve that we remember their selfless love, companionship and camaraderie at least one day in a year.

I have fond memories with my father. He has been my guide, my friend on more than one occasion. He doesn’t judge me and is my hero. It is very difficult for any other person to live up to the standards that he has set, or to take his place. He always put my happiness above all.

As a child, my father taught me the importance of trust in a relationship. He just believed I won’t do anything wrong. This value was so deeply ingrained that I could never ever imagine hiding anything from him or lying to him. In my teenage years, he insisted I call my grandparents every day, to give them companionship which resulted in a love-filled bond with them.

Whenever we felt upset about the rules that the mother set for the house we became partners in discussing our woes yet at the same time, he always insisted that my mother gets the respect that she deserves. At 21 when I told him I want a two-wheeler for myself, he warned against the dangers of eve-teasers and troublesome traffic. We got a two-wheeler for myself when I displayed that I could handle situations such as those. My father has played a role in shaping me as a person, as a woman of character, values and feelings.

As a mother of a young daughter, I watch with joy the role her father is playing in shaping her. The joyous times they spend together and the invigorating discussions they have. I hope she grows up one day and says with pride that her father is her hero as well. What are your happy memories with your father? Are you out of reasons to celebrate your father as well? Let’s celebrate fathers without whom we are incomplete.