Psycho Social Aspects

Psychosocial Aspect of Breastfeeding

Role of Breastfeeding in the Psychosocial Development of the Child • Promotes a satisfactory and loving relationship or bonding between mother and child. • Helps prevent some psychosocial disabilities. • Prevents or minimizes the loss of learning time and opportunities.

Some of the Effects of a Positive Breastfeeding Situation • Breastfeeding babies walk earlier • Enhanced verbal interaction on the 2nd Year  active participation in the future. • Enhances parenting behavior responsiveness,

Newton’s Description of Early Attachments of the New Family Father interacts with Baby

= Engrossment

Mother interacts with Baby

= Bonding

Baby interacts with mother

= Attachment

Father to both mother & baby = Doula

DOULA

is any person who provides psychological encouragement and physical assistance to a woman in labor or mother who has delivered.

Failure of infant to form effective attachment to his mother /mother substitute … inability /difficulty in developing close personal relationship in adulthood undesirable personality characteristics

PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF BREASTFEEDING • • • •

Competencies of the Newborn Parent Behavior The Interaction Relationship of Social Interaction to Breastfeeding • Consequences of a Positive Breastfeeding Situation • Interaction Failures • Cultural Differences

COMPETENCIES OF THE INFANT 1. VISUAL COMPETENCIES

• rapidly increase in the first weeks and months of life. • quite mature at birth • fixed focal distance 8 to 10 inch range Mother’s face act as an attention recruiting stimulus for him while he spends a significant amount of time simply looking at it during breastfeeding.

2. Auditory Competency  Infant selectively attends and will orient to the human voice (high pitch – especially the woman’s voice).  Very impressive ability to differentiate sounds – after birth  Lullabies have musicologic characteristics that allow the infant to organize his distress and quiet himself when hearing them.

3. Tactile Competency Infant’s attention is selectively enhanced when vestibular mechanisms allow him in an upright position to open his eyes and scan his environment.  Also known as sensory capacity  Readily coordinated in the newborn period  Integrated in behavioral packages  Directed towards social interaction

4. Olfactory Competency  Newborn are able to differentiate odors  Shows changes in activity, heart rate and breathing - with a new odor.  Keen sense of smell helps young infants to ‘navigate’ in their environment (e.g., locating mother’s nipples)

PARENT BEHAVIOR Studies conducted observed that:  Adults are programmed to attend to particular ‘babyness’ qualities that offer an appeal for the infant.  Allows parents to become focused on and eventually attached to their particular infant.  Changed by the presence of the infant.

Role of Breastfeeding in the Psychosocial Development of the Child

A loving /warm relationship between mother and infant has vital role in the child’s mental /social development.

Role of Breastfeeding in the Psychosocial Development of the Child

The Infant: • Becomes confident /secure in investigating /discovering /exploring his surroundings • Has increased capability to love and respond appropriately to others. • Develops confidence /courage to react appropriately during stressful situations

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES “Baby profile” reflects the culture in which they are born. Infants move more readily to the language / movement pattern they have been exposed to It is how parents or the primary caretakers perceive their babies that these infants are trained to be so.

• Prolonged Breastfeeding Pattern - observed in countries were weaning foods are difficult to digest or unavailable. Shorten Lactation Period - noted in areas where more bland of easily digested foods are available (Like in the Philippines). Working Mothers sleeping with the infant is a regular pattern of behavior throughout the world.

INTERACTION FAILURE

RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIAL INTERACTION TO BREASTFEEDING

SOCIAL INTERACTION AND BREASTFEEDING •

It is thru breastfeeding situation that the child gets the earliest, most extensive and closest model for social interaction.

2. Within the breastfeeding, the infant is allowed to control and determine the interaction with his mother.

SOCIAL INTERACTION AND BREASTFEEDING

•

There is increase opportunity for undivided attention by the caretaker, direct bodily contact and stroking.

4. Maternal self-esteem, competence and confidence in maternal role is increased..

“A positive interaction supports development.” “A poor interaction undermines / weakens development.”

BONDING the unique interaction Between mother and child that withstand time.

PSYCHOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT Refers to the qualitative changes in his ability and capacity: To think To solve problems To adapt himself to his environment To learn and understand To express his feelings and thoughts To related with others

The baby we breastfeed today becomes an active part of society tomorrow. What he is in society tomorrow depends on his social interaction in the breastfeeding situation.