Breastfeeding in Infancy

This week I decided to do some research on the impact of breastfeeding infants from birth and the affect it has on the bond that forms between mother and child because after the summer I too will get to experience that joyous bond with my child! I have always felt that a mother and child are so intune with each other, before and then after birth, and that breastfeeding can really aid to that growing relationship. Jansen decribes this bond to consist of two counterparts: the maternal bond, or the tie from mother to infant, and infant attachment, or the tie from infant to mother (2008). Breastfeeding seems to be a strong, connecting experience for mother and child, an experience that has sentimental value for when my child arrives.

“UNICEF data indicates that Iraqi women have lower rates of breastfeeding than other Middle East countries and that breastfeeding rates are usually even lower among refugee women. This low rate of breastfeeding may be a result of refugee women’s lack of public and social support and access to health professionals” (Madanat, 2008). The age of Iraqi refugee women giving birth in Jordan averages about 18 years old and it is difficult for educational and health resources to reach these young girls. “Results indicated that the majority of these women did not receive education or assistance about breastfeeding from health professionals before or after giving childbirth” and the majority of girls depend on family or friends nearby to learn how to breastfeed (Madanat, 2008). It sounds horrifiying to have to go through such a huge life event without appropriate medical care, but for these very young mothers, I suppose there might be a sense of hope in the words of wisdom given by close family and friends. I know that even though proper health care is essential, I would not want to go through childbirth without the love and care of my family and close friends.

I also came across an article about Belfast, Ireland, where “breastfeeding is a key public health measure to protect and promote the health of one of the most vulnerable groups of the population--infants and children - but has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world” (Bishop, 2008). Most mothers who were older, more experienced, of a higher social class, and were breastfed themselves tended to also breatfeed their own children. About 57% of women who became mothers in the country stopped within the first six months to one year after birth, and switched to bottle feeding for reasons of convenience, experience, and the idea that it was “the norm” (Bishop, 2008).

Reference List

Bishop, Hilary, Cousins, Wendy, Casson, Karen & Moore, Ann. (2008). Culture and Caregivers: Factors Influencing Breastfeeding among Mothers in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. Child Care in Practice 14(2): 165-179. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?hid=7&sid=647c87e5-c0bd-4082-a748-4b4c842aac94%40sessionmgr13&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=eric&AN=EJ794205

Jansen, Jarno, de Weerth, Carolina, & Riksen-Walraven, Marianne J. (2008). Breastfeeding and the mother–infant relationship—A review. Elsevier 28, 503–521. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDH-4T719YX-1&_user=7754736&_coverDate=12/31/2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000072739&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=7754736&md5=57a8dc09e4deabaacf3e09354fbca4a2&searchtype=a

Madanat, Hala, Farrell, Heather, Merrill, Ray & Cox, Erin. (2008). Breastfeeding Education, Support, and Barriers among Iraqi Refugee Women in Jordan. International Electronic Journal of Health Education 10, 138-149. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ794205.pdf