So-called natural parenting, including breastfeeding children older than a year, is now in vogue. But who is spreading this fashion? As it turned out, the mothers themselves.
At a recent American Pediatric Association National Conference, Alexis Tchaconas, clinical researcher at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, presented the results of an online survey of more than 50 women aged 18 to 50 who were breastfeeding or breastfeeding. breastfeeding children after they were one year old. The researchers were able to attract such a large number of participants through the assistance of La Leche League (La Leche League), an international organization in support of long-term breastfeeding, as well as through forums and Facebook groups dedicated to breastfeeding.
The top three reasons given by survey participants for long feedings were the nutritional value of breast milk, its health benefits for the baby, and the opportunity to build a stronger bond with the baby. In addition, participants noted factors such as the pleasure of feeding, the support of a spouse, and the ability to not spend money on artificial formula for feeding.
All this is, in general, predictable. But the study also gave an unexpected result: it turned out that the opinion of doctors does not have a special influence on the choice of mothers.
“Most women are happy to discuss the pros and cons of long-term breastfeeding with their healthcare providers, but their advice does not affect the final decision,” said Dr. Andrew Adesman, also of the Stephen and Alexandra Coen Children’s Medical Center.
However, there is no problem here, since the American Pediatric Association still recommends that breastfeeding be continued after a year, if that is the desire of both the mother and the child.
It has been previously found* that extroverted, emotionally stable women are more likely to choose to breastfeed for a long time, and that introverted and anxious mothers wean their babies a little earlier, in part because they feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public or because they are more receptive to words. surrounding, advising to switch to a mixture. In addition, mothers taking antidepressants are known to breastfeed 60% less often than women who do not need these drugs **, but what is the point here – whether it is depression itself, or an unwillingness to expose the child to the effects of active substances these drugs is not yet clear.
*psychcentral.com/news/2013/08/07/moms-personality-influences-breastfeeding-decisions/58140.html
** psychcentral.com/news/2012/03/09/antidepressants-in-pregnancy-linked-to-less-breastfeeding/35796.html