Breastfeeding is a Right-Brained Actvity
Breastfeeding has to do much with the side of your brain that has to do with affection and feelings, that is your right side and less with the analytical part, or the left part of your brain. The left part of the brain has to do with instructions and knowledge and the right has to do with the emotions, creativity and body knowledge. After labor, intentionally, your brain will be more on your right side to take advantages of the natural mother and baby interaction. So if we give a new mom a list of “instructions” to absorb at this moment, where she has to use her left side of the brain it becomes overwhelming and she might just start doubting her natural urges to care for her baby. So if we can approach breastfeeding as a right brained activity then it might become more natural to you.
Source:
Schore 2001 The effects on a secure attachment relationship on right brain development, affect regulation and infant health. Infant mental Health Journal, 22 7-66
Smillie 2008 How infants learn to feed. A neurobehavioral model.
