Mothering through breastfeeding

Humans are social beings, and develop social life skills to connect, communicate and care during infancy and childhood as these are the formative years. When a woman begins her pregnancy, she steps into the realm of her embodiment of being a woman, capable of mothering a child.

- Effath Yasmin

She then becomes the orientation or the core anchor for the growing baby to develop social skills the child uses to learn to communicate and interact with others, both verbally and non-verbally, through gestures, body language and personal intimate interactions. The most crucial intimate exchange of this interpersonal dynamics begins at birth. The physiological communication between the mother and baby during labour allows for movement of the mother’s body to facilitate a safe passage for the baby to arrive. As the tissues, muscles and fluids in her body expand and circulate in response to the baby’s descend, the interaction and negotiation has already began. What follows as sequence after birth into breastfeeding then becomes the impetuous to a lifetime of play out.

The link between feeding at the breast and caring for the baby is a very powerful biological response of every species on earth. Maternal behaviour is highly influenced by this symbiotic exchange between a mum and her child. The important thing to remember is that the mother’s breasts are for comfort and connect, not so much for nutrition. The nutrition is the fruit of the bond.