Breastfeeding is both biological and relational. It’s a daily interaction that supports physical health, emotional regulation, and mental wellbeing, for both mother and baby. In this post, we’ll explore the many ways breastmilk supports your baby’s body, brain, and emotional development, and how it benefits mothers too.
Designed for Your Baby
Breastmilk is unique to each mother and child. It changes composition across the day, during growth spurts, and in response to illness or stress.
In the early days, colostrum (the first milk) is rich in antibodies that line and protect the gut. As milk matures, it adapts to provide the right balance of nutrition and immune support.
If a baby becomes unwell, changes in their saliva during feeding can trigger an increase in specific antibodies in the milk, helping them fight infection.
This responsive design doesn’t just protect the body, it builds a deep sense of safety and trust. When a baby’s needs are met consistently, their stress levels drop, their nervous system stabilises, and their brain begins wiring for connection and emotional security.
Supporting Brain and Emotional Development
Breastmilk contains nutrients essential for cognitive development, such as DHA for the brain and long-chain fatty acids for the nervous system. But the act of breastfeeding itself is just as important.
Being held close, feeling skin-to-skin warmth, hearing a familiar heartbeat, and experiencing predictable, soothing rhythms all help a baby regulate their stress response. Over time, this shapes the developing brain toward calm, trust, and resilience.
These repeated experiences of comfort and connection lay the foundation for secure attachment, a key factor in lifelong emotional wellbeing.
For mothers, the same interactions trigger hormonal changes, especially the release of oxytocin, that reduce stress, enhance bonding, and support emotional recovery in the postpartum period.
Benefits for Mothers
Breastfeeding supports maternal health in several ways. It assists uterine recovery, and is linked to lower risks of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
It can also play a role in mental health. The calming hormonal effects of breastfeeding, combined with moments of stillness and closeness, can reduce stress hormones and support mood stability. When mothers feel supported in their feeding choices and confident in their care, these benefits are often enhanced.
More Than Feeding
Feeding is never just about nutrition, it’s also communication. Each feed offers a chance to connect, soothe, and respond.
Through eye contact, warmth, and touch, breastfeeding helps babies feel seen and safe. For parents, it can become a rhythm that invites rest and reconnection in the midst of early parenthood.
When feeding doesn’t go as planned, or challenges arise, seeking support early can make a profound difference, reducing stress, restoring confidence, and protecting emotional wellbeing for both parent and baby.
Every Journey Matters
Whether breastfeeding, mixed feeding, or formula feeding, what matters most is the relationship, being responsive, emotionally available, and attuned.
References
- Borra, C., Iacovou, M., & Sevilla, A. (2015). New evidence on breastfeeding and postpartum depression: The importance of understanding women’s intentions. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 19(4), 897–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1591-z
- Chowdhury, R., Sinha, B., Sankar, M. J., Taneja, S., Bhandari, N., Rollins, N., Bahl, R., & Martines, J. (2015). Breastfeeding and maternal health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica, 104(467), 96–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13102
- Horta, B. L., de Mola, C. L., & Victora, C. G. (2015). Long-term consequences of breastfeeding on cholesterol, obesity, systolic blood pressure and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica, 104(467), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13133
- Ip, S., Chung, M., Raman, G., Trikalinos, T., & Lau, J. (2007). Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
- Krol, K. M., & Grossmann, T. (2018). Psychological effects of breastfeeding on children and mothers. Bundesgesundheitsblatt – Gesundheitsforschung – Gesundheitsschutz, 61(8), 977–985. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-018-2769-0
- Lauritzen, L., Brambilla, P., Mazzocchi, A., Harsløf, L. B. S., Ciappolino, V., & Agostoni, C. (2016). DHA effects in brain development and function. Nutrients, 8(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8010006
- Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Handlin, L., Kendall-Tackett, K., & Petersson, M. (2019). Oxytocin is a principal hormone that exerts part of its effects by active fragments. Medical Hypotheses, 133, 109394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109394
- World Health Organization. (2023). Infant and young child feeding: Key facts. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding
