I would discuss how breastfeeding promotess close physical proximity between mother and child, something known to increase the responsiveness of the mother. Everyone child health nurse should have a copy of this paper. Anisfeld et al. (1990). Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Development 61: 1617-1627 Basically it reports that a group of poor, urban mothers (at risk?) are given a sling and encourageed to use it their babies are much more likely to develop a secure attachment at one year than if the mothers are given a baby carrier. This is an excerpt of a paper of mine (only submitted at this stage) that is looking at breastfeeding children at risk due to a history of institutionalisation. I think some of it might be helpful. "Breastfeeding may have had a positive impact on the child and on the mother-child relationship. In adoption, both child and parent are alien to each other and it is only over time and through intimate interaction that the mother-child relationship develops.38 Breastfeeding helps to forge mutually intimate relationships as characteristics of intimacy such as reciprocity, harmony, trust, emotional closeness and skin-to-skin contact, are all part of the breastfeeding experience.44 Skin-to-skin contact in particular has been implicated in promotion of behaviors that assist attachment.45,46 In addition, breastfeeding may have an impact on the sensitivity of the mother to her child as it has been associated with the exhibition of a greater responsiveness and caring in mothers47,48,49 and there is a positive relationship between maternal sensitivity and the attachment relationship.50 The greater responsiveness of the breastfeeding mother is at least partially due to the release of oxytocin during breastfeeding which promotes the development of maternal behaviour.51 However, there may also be a more mechanical reason for the increased responsiveness of breastfeeding women in that the physical circumstances that surround breastfeeding require mothers to maintain physical proximity to their child and to interact with them on a regular basis in a positive and intimate manner.52" and from another article "Moreover, breastfeeding may help the mother cope with stress better as suckling at the breast has been associated with 'relaxation responses' that have been measured via electroencephalograph (Cervantes et al 1992) and in decreased blood pressure and cortisol levels (Amico, 1994). The positive impact of breastfeeding on the mother is important, as it is vital to remember that attachment is a two way street and it is advantageous to promote a climate that helps the mother attach to her child." 38. Cohen S: Trauma and the developmental process: excerpts from an analysis of an adopted child. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child 51:287-302, 1994 44. Dignam DM: Understanding intimacy as experienced by breastfeeding women, Health Care for Women International 16:477-485, 1995 45. Feldman R, Eidelman AI, Sirota L et al: Comparison of skin-to-skin (kangaroo) and traditional care: parenting outcomes and preterm infant development. Pediatrics 110:16-26, 2002-08-15 Tessier R, Cristo M, Velez S et al: Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 102:e17, 1998 46. Tessier R, Cristo M, Velez S, Giron M, de Calume ZF, Ruiz JG, Charpak Y, Charpak N: Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 102:e17, http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/102/2/e17, 1998 47. Brandt K, Andrews CM, Kvale J: Mother-infant interaction and breastfeeding outcome 6 weeks after birth. JOCNN 27:169-174, 1998 48. De Andraca I, Salas MI, Lopez C et al: Effect of breast feeding and psychosocial variables upon psychomotor development of 12 month infants. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 49:223-231, 1999 49. Fergusson DM, Woodward LJ: Breastfeeding and later psychosocial adjustment. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 13:144-157, 1999 50. Pederson DR, Gleason KE, Moran G et al: Maternal attachment representations, maternal sensitivity, and the infant-mother attachment relationship. Experimental Psychology 5:925-933, 1998 51. Uvnas-Moberg K: Eriksson M: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioural adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland. Acta Paediatrica 85:525-530, 1996 52. Epstein K: The interactions between breastfeeding mothers and their babies during the breastfeeding session. Early Child Development and Care 87:93-104, 1993 Cervantes M, Ruelas R, Alcala V: EEG signs of "relaxation behavior" during breast-feeding in a nursing woman. Archives of Medical Research 23:123-127, 1992 Amico J, Johnson JM, Vagnucci AH: Suckling induced attenuation of plasma cortisol concentrations in postpartum lactating women. Endocrinology Research 20:79-87, 1994 Karleen Gribble Australia > I have been asked to do a presentation on breastfeeding and high risk > mothers. The audience will not be health professionals, but a group of > people who work with mothers classified as "high risk" - staff from child > protective services, for example, volunteer "home visitors" from a > provincial program, staff from women's shelters, etc. I have some experience > working with high risk mothers and with protective services (called CAS > here) but wondered if any in this group had suggestions on important issues > to cover and suggestions to involve the audience. > > Teresa Pitman > *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html