‭BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING‬ ‭1‬

‭The Benefits of Breastfeeding in Newborn Infants‬

‭Maren Abbattista, Aubrianna McClellan, Alexis McLewis, and Samuel McDonald‬

‭Centofanti School of Nursing, Youngstown State University‬

‭3749: Nursing Research‬

‭Ms. Randi Heasley‬

‭April 9, 2023‬
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‭The Benefits of Breastfeeding in Newborn Infants‬

‭For many generations, utilizing alternative feeding methods such as formula in place of‬

‭breastfeeding has been very controversial. Before the 1930s, breastfeeding was considered the‬

‭norm for almost every mother. This was because women rarely had obligations outside the home‬

‭at the time. One job that was immensely popular for women at this time was “wet nursing”,‬

‭which is when a poor woman would breastfeed and care for another family’s baby while her‬

‭child would be forgotten about at home. ‬

‭After the 1940s and 1950s, women started to have more work opportunities, so formula‬

‭feeding became increasingly popular. Although breastfeeding is still considered the “gold‬

‭standard” for newborn nutrition, formula feeding has grown popular due to convenience and the‬

‭fact that more women are returning to work. Many parents are also choosing to alternate feeding‬

‭methods (going back and forth between breastfeeding and formula feeding) so their babies will‬

‭get the best nutrition while still receiving the benefits of breastfeeding, such as antibodies and‬

‭protection against short-term and long-term illnesses.‬

‭Although this debate is primarily focused on the newborn’s health, examining the effects‬

‭of breastfeeding compared to alternative feeding methods on the mother’s physical and mental‬

‭health is also critical. The breastfeeding versus not breastfeeding debate is a crucial topic. This is‬

‭because it will help parents choose the most effective feeding method to promote optimal health‬

‭for mothers and their newborns. In seeking information on this topic, our purpose is to find out‬

‭for newborn infants, how breastfeeding compared to not breastfeeding affects their physical and‬

‭psychosocial health. This will be conveyed by exploring the evidence and a few different themes‬

‭including the physical and psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding, the impact breastfeeding has‬
‭THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN NEWBORN INFANTS 3‬

‭on maternal bonding, and the benefits of combination feeding for those unable to exclusively‬

‭breastfeed.‬

‭PICOT‬

‭This literature review was conducted to examine the‬‭benefits of breastfeeding, formula‬

‭feeding, and combination feeding to determine the best route of feeding for infants. The effects‬

‭of these different routes of feeding on the infant, mother, and the relationship between mother‬

‭and infant were examined. The following PICOT question was developed: “For newborn infants,‬

‭how does breastfeeding compared to not breastfeeding affect physical and psychosocial health?”‬

‭Search Strategy‬

‭For our research, we used the Cumulative Index to‬‭Nursing and Allied Health Literature‬

‭(CINAHL) and PubMed search engines to find research related to our research question. We‬

‭used the terms breastfeeding, postpartum, and newborn to guide our search. When we searched‬

‭these terms we yielded many articles, but not all were related to our topic. We then narrowed our‬

‭search even further by choosing specific years from which we wanted articles. We chose articles‬

‭that were written from the year 2018 until the present. We narrowed these articles down even‬

‭more by choosing ones relevant to our themes: the psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding, the‬

‭impact of breastfeeding on maternal bonding, the physical benefits of breastfeeding, and the‬

‭benefits of combination feeding. From narrowing down our search, we were able to find about‬

‭20 articles that were relevant to our research. We picked 7 of these articles to use in our research.‬

‭By taking all of these steps, we were able to successfully gather enough credible information to‬

‭back up our research.‬

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‭Literature Review‬

‭Four themes that are important to acknowledge in the discussion of breastfeeding and its‬

‭effect on the physical and psychosocial health of newborn infants and mothers were identified in‬

‭the literature. The themes identified were the psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding, the impact‬

‭of breastfeeding on maternal bonding, the physical benefits of breastfeeding, and the benefits of‬

‭combination feeding.‬

‭Psychosocial Benefits of Breastfeeding‬

‭Breastfeeding also has a significant impact on psychosocial health for not only the‬

‭newborn but also the mother. Psychosocial benefits can be defined as social factors that influence‬

‭an individual’s mind or behavior. Breastfeeding a newborn can have lifelong psychosocial‬

‭benefits for the mother and baby.‬

‭Research has been conducted throughout the‬‭last several years explaining the‬

‭psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding for a growing child. In the article, “Psychological Effects‬

‭of Breastfeeding on Children and Mothers” the psychological benefits of breastfeeding are‬

‭explained. Research has been conducted, and studies show that breastfeeding has been linked to‬

‭enhanced intellectual capacity, accelerated brain growth, and a decreased chance of exhibiting‬

‭antisocial behaviors or abnormal social growth such as ASD (also known as autism spectrum‬

‭disorder). The research shows that the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found in‬

‭breast milk contribute to healthy brain growth and successful myelination (Krol & Grossmann,‬

‭2018).‬

‭Not only does breastfeeding promote positive‬‭psychosocial outcomes and behaviors for‬

‭the infant but it can also benefit the mother’s psychosocial health. In comparison to‬

‭formula-feeding mothers, those who nurse their children report fewer feelings of stress, anxiety,‬
‭THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN NEWBORN INFANTS 5‬

‭and sadness. Since mothers who breastfeed report fewer occurrences of these feelings, they also‬

‭tend to be less at risk for the development of postpartum depression. Nursing mothers also have a‬

‭greater chance of successful bonding and attachment with their babies because they spend more‬

‭time with their children. Since breastfeeding newborns depend on their mother for food, the‬

‭mother becomes more responsive to the baby, which leads to more time spent bonding with the‬

‭baby (Krol & Grossmann, 2018).‬

‭Impact of Breastfeeding on Maternal Bonding‬

‭Today there are many routes to feeding a child, and research shows benefits for every‬

‭type. Breastfeeding has many benefits, but there are also numerous problems for mothers who‬

‭struggle with breastfeeding. For themselves, their children, and in the process of bonding with‬

‭their children.‬

‭Breastfeeding benefits the mother and the child for many reasons rooted in what occurs‬

‭while breastfeeding. While breastfeeding, the mother and infant are close together and‬

‭experience skin-to-skin contact, in addition to the suckling of the infant, which results in a bond‬

‭between mother and child that is even stronger than before (Roth et al., 2021, p. 781). This‬

‭closeness allows the mother and child to understand each other on a deeper level, resulting in an‬

‭overall better parental relationship for the mother. This attunement between them is something‬

‭unachievable through other domains of feeding, which is why breastfeeding is considered one of‬

‭the best routes for feeding newborns (Roth et al., 2021, p. 781).‬

‭This idea is made clear in the comparison between mothers who are successful at‬

‭breastfeeding their newborns and mothers who are unsuccessful at breastfeeding their newborns‬

‭and the problems that arise with that struggle. In a study by Marissa Roth, she investigates‬

‭successful versus unsuccessful breastfeeding and the impacts those each have on the‬
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‭mother-infant relationship. In this study, there were 125 newborn mother participants of‬

‭numerous racial backgrounds between the ages of 23 to 45 years old. In their first 6 months‬

‭postpartum, the participants completed monthly surveys to assess the bonding they experienced‬

‭with their newborn. Utilized in this study were the mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale to examine‬

‭the bonding the mother felt with her infant alongside the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale‬

‭to assess the feelings of depression experienced by the mother concerning her success or failure‬

‭to breastfeed (Roth et al., 2021, p. 779).‬

‭The results were unsurprising as mothers who experienced more trouble with‬

‭breastfeeding reported lower levels of bonding with their newborns, and mothers who‬

‭experienced less difficulty with breastfeeding reported higher levels of bonding with their‬

‭newborns (Roth et al., 2021, p. 780). When done successfully, breastfeeding offers so many‬

‭benefits to the mother and infant, but with numerous variables at play, when breastfeeding does‬

‭not go as well as planned by the mother, the bond and stability the mother feels in this new role‬

‭is decreased. In addition to these findings, the most reported reason in the early postpartum‬

‭period that mothers experienced maternal distress was breastfeeding difficulties, resulting in‬

‭feelings of defeat for the mother unable to feed their child in the way they had desired (Roth et‬

‭al., 2021, p. 781).‬

‭This attachment that breastfeeding mothers feel with their newborns goes above and‬

‭beyond just that. This attachment results in a much stronger bond formation and enhanced‬

‭parenting behavior, which carries far beyond the 6-month postpartum period. The maternal bond‬

‭many achieve through breastfeeding is why many mothers today breastfeed instead of formula‬

‭feed. Not only because breastfeeding has these benefits but also because mothers who bottle feed‬
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‭their infants are often struck with postpartum guilt for not breastfeeding their newborns (Kim,‬

‭2019, p. 65).‬

‭It is no surprise that breastfeeding has been such a widely debated topic. Breastfeeding‬

‭impacts the mothering experience, which is made clear in Sun-Hee Kim's study that dives into‬

‭maternal attachment and the breastfeeding characteristics that affect that attachment. According‬

‭to this study, the factors that affected maternal attachment the most included emotional‬

‭exchanges with their infant, breastfeeding success and confidence, and depression (Kim, 2019, p.‬

‭69). Every infant is different, and an infant successfully or unsuccessfully breastfeeding affects‬

‭the bond made with the mother through the emotional exchanges involved in breastfeeding. As a‬

‭result, the mental health of mothers and the relationship between mother and infant are affected.‬

‭Physical Benefits of Breastfeeding‬

‭There are many physical health benefits for newborns that are seen when being breastfed‬

‭by their mothers. Studies suggest that breastfed babies have positive long-term effects‬

‭contributing to their health. Breastmilk, undoubtedly, helps to keep newborns healthy. High‬

‭nutritional value and a reduction in common digestive issues begin to be advantageous from‬

‭birth. Many nutrients in breast milk are easily absorbed by newborns. In addition, these nutrients‬

‭contained in breast milk are the best for a baby’s nervous system development as well as brain‬

‭growth. These benefits aid in a newborn’s physical and developmental health very early on.‬

‭Along with those developmental positives, social and emotional development is also affected.‬

‭This is gained through mother-newborn nurturing and physical touch during breastfeeding. This‬

‭is just another example of how a newborn’s development is strengthened through breastfeeding.‬

‭Breast milk has also been shown to help in fighting disease processes and infections.‬

‭Infections in newborns have been less severe in those who were breastfed. These include lung,‬
‭THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN NEWBORN INFANTS 8‬

‭digestive, and ear infections. The antibodies in breast milk also help to fight off viruses and‬

‭bacteria. This contributes to stronger immunity and antibody protection for babies. In addition to‬

‭the antibodies, breast milk also contains white blood cells, protective enzymes, and stem cells‬

‭that help to fight off infections and could help with healing. Infants who are breastfed are at a‬

‭lower risk for obesity, asthma, type 1 diabetes, pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, sinus‬

‭infections, and many others. Breast milk also gives newborns extra protection against the‬

‭common cold, flu, and other mild illnesses. Some life-threatening conditions that can also be‬

‭prevented or have a less chance of occurrence due to breastfeeding include sudden infant death‬

‭syndrome (SIDS), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A‬

‭newborn’s immune system is strengthened from being breastfed due to its germ-fighting factors.‬

‭Immunological protection during a newborn’s life is best provided through their mother’s breast‬

‭milk.‬

‭Evidence has shown that breastmilk may prevent future food allergies, the risk of asthma,‬

‭incidences of atopic dermatitis, and the development of eczema. Breastfeeding consistently‬

‭boosts a newborn's development of their immune and respiratory systems. This helps with the‬

‭reduction of risks that can trigger allergy-induced asthma symptoms. There are plenty of positive‬

‭bacteria and protective proteins that live in the stomach and intestines that help to keep the‬

‭body’s immune system strong. In turn, preventing allergy issues and asthma. The longer a‬

‭mother breastfeeds her newborn, the less likely he/she will experience asthma and allergy-related‬

‭issues. Since allergies are an immune response, breastmilk can help strengthen a newborn’s‬

‭immune system.‬

‭The chances of becoming overweight or obese later in life are lessened in those newborns‬

‭who were breastfed. Breastfeeding contributes to overall healthy eating habits and keeping a‬
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‭healthy weight from childhood to adulthood. There is a strong correlation between breastfed‬

‭infants and decreased risks of overweight/obesity. Some reasons for this are healthy bacteria in‬

‭the baby’s digestive system, a later introduction of solid foods, and regulation of the amount of‬

‭breast milk consumed. A child’s weight can be positively affected by being breastfed as a‬

‭newborn.‬

‭Another health risk that is lowered by breastfeeding is type 1 diabetes. Since type 1‬

‭diabetes is a disease that is characterized by extremely high levels of glucose, the introduction of‬

‭cow’s milk, gluten, and other new foods would increase the chance of development. So due to‬

‭being breastfed, these infants are at a lesser risk. The likelihood that a child will develop type 1‬

‭diabetes if they were predominantly breastfed through their first year of life is lower than those‬

‭who were not.‬

‭Breastfed newborn infants possess stronger physical benefits. This specifically relates to‬

‭disease processes and immunity. Overall, breastfeeding helps to prepare these infants to stay‬

‭healthier long-term.‬

‭Benefits of Combination Feeding‬

‭Breastfeeding is considered to be the most beneficial form of feeding for newborns and‬

‭infants, resulting in many mothers feeling pressure to breastfeed. Combination feeding can‬

‭relieve some of this pressure and can allow the mother to feel more comfortable when trying to‬

‭breastfeed. Combination feeding can act as a form of self-preservation against feeling guilty or‬

‭disappointed if breastfeeding does not go as expected (Burton et al., 2022). When a mother‬

‭decides to combination feed before the baby is born, she feels more relaxed and is less likely to‬

‭have a feeling of failure if breastfeeding alone does not work for her.‬
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‭Combination feeding is beneficial to a mother who is experiencing anxiety due to the‬

‭lifestyle changes of breastfeeding alone. It enables the mother to maintain some normalcy in her‬

‭life by allowing other caregivers to feed the infant. In doing so, other members of the family are‬

‭afforded bonding time with the infant. Nighttime feedings are one area where combination‬

‭feeding is beneficial for the mother, as they can rest while another family member feeds the‬

‭infant. Combination feeding is also very beneficial for working mothers. Burton suggests that‬

‭using combination feeding from early on can make the transition back to work much easier for‬

‭the mother. When a baby has been fed substitute milk, they are accustomed to taking a bottle and‬

‭the mother doesn’t have to be relied on as much as when the baby is solely breastfed (Burton et‬

‭al., 2022). A Mother needs to feel comfortable about her infant’s well-being because it will make‬

‭it easier and less stressful when she returns to her normal lifestyle.‬

‭The British Journal of Nutrition explains that breast milk is very beneficial to a newborn‬

‭as it promotes the immune system, protects against infection, and can aid in the neurological‬

‭development of the child (Hemingway et al., 2020). Due to this, many mothers struggle with the‬

‭choice of whether to breastfeed or not. They want to give their infant the best start to life by‬

‭breastfeeding, but they feel it would tie them down (Burton et al., 2020). This can result in‬

‭women deciding not to breastfeed which can lead to guilt in the future. Combination feeding can‬

‭allow a mother the peace of mind of knowing she is providing her infant these important benefits‬

‭while also giving herself the flexibility she needs in her life, allowing her to remain guilt-free.‬

‭In recent years there has been a big stigma over mothers breastfeeding in public. Many‬

‭mothers are uncomfortable breastfeeding their babies in an open public setting. For some‬

‭mothers, there is more than just the stigma that surrounds breastfeeding in public. It is a personal‬

‭preference as they feel uncomfortable and anxious about other people watching them breastfeed.‬
‭THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN NEWBORN INFANTS 11‬

‭These feelings can be alleviated by formula feeding their infants when they are away from the‬

‭privacy and comfort of their homes.‬

‭Conclusion‬

‭In conclusion, studies have shown breastfeeding is still the preferred method of feeding‬

‭by medical professionals. It is not only preferred for the infant but also for the mother due to the‬

‭health benefits it has for her. It provides an infant with nutrition, builds their immune system, can‬

‭lower their risk of disease later in life, and can aid in reducing obesity. Breastfeeding allows for‬

‭more bonding and attachment between mother and infant than other methods of feeding. For‬

‭those mothers who want the benefits of breastfeeding for their child but need the flexibility of‬

‭formula feeding, they can use the supplemental feeding method. This does not mean that infants‬

‭fed by an alternative method will not thrive and grow into healthy adults. Even though‬

‭alternative feeding methods will provide adequate nutrition, breastfeeding has greater natural‬

‭benefits that you will not receive with the alternative. There was a thorough amount of research‬

‭on breastfeeding and the benefits that it offers. The area where there seems to be somewhat of a‬

‭gap in research is in the benefits of formula or alternate feeding methods, especially when‬

‭discussing maternal bonding. For example, what effect does breastfeeding and formula feeding‬

‭have on the bonding between the father or support system and the infant? To take the next step in‬

‭researching this topic, this idea of maternal bonding needs to be expanded to see if there is a‬

‭major effect on the bonding between the infant, and the other people in their lives, such as their‬

‭father or grandparents when an infant is formula fed instead of breastfed.‬

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‭References‬

‭Baumgartner, T., Bhamidipalli, S. S., Guise, D., Daggy, J., Parker, C. B., Westermann, M., Parry,‬

‭S., Grobman, W. A., Mercer, B. M., Simhan, H. N., Silver, R. M., Wapner, R. J., Saade,‬

‭G. R., Reddy, U. M., & Haas, D. M. (2020). Psychosocial and Sociodemographic‬

‭Contributors to Breastfeeding Intention in First-Time Mothers.‬‭Maternal & Child Health‬

‭Journal‬‭,‬‭24‬‭(8), 1047–1056.‬‭https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02928-0‬

‭Burton, A., Taylor, J., Swain, S., Heyes, J., Cust, F., & Dean, S. (2022). A qualitative exploration‬

‭of mixed feeding intentions in first-time mothers.‬‭British Journal of Midwifery‬‭,‬‭30‬‭(1),‬

‭20–29.‬‭https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2022.30.1.20‬

‭Hemmingway, A., Fisher, D., Berkery, T., Dempsey, E., Murray, D. M., & Kiely, M. E. (2020). A‬

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‭https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520001324‬

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‭https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-018-2769-0‬
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‭Breastfeeding Difficulties Predict Mothers’ Bonding with Their Infants from Birth to Age‬

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