Research Critique Breastfeeding Bonding and the Mother Infant Relationship
Research Critique: Breastfeeding, Bonding, and the Mother-Infant Relationship In this journal, taken from Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, the scientist doing this research tested two hypotheses. The two hypotheses were the bonding hypothesis and the good enough caregiver hypothesis, regarding the correlation of breastfeeding with maternal bonding and the mother-infant relationship. From earlier research, bonding theorist believed that early physical contact with an infant during the postpartum period is important to obtain an optimal bond. ... The high levels of this chemical makes the mother form bonds with her infant. Furthermore, oxytocin is the chemical that stimulates the let-down of milk, which results in an increase of the parasympathetic system which slows down the heart rate and decreases blood pressure, which decreases anxiety and therefore leads to a more improved bond with the infant.