Breastfeeding is considered as a sacred act of fostering emotional resilience, cultivate holistic practice to nurture the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Contact of baby’s saliva stimulate production of customized milk with necessary properties to meet the baby’s current immunological needs.
Benefits for the Baby
Baby feels the warmth and comfort of his mother’s embrace which regulate baby’s emotions, reduce stress, and promotes feeling of well-being and comfort. Feeling of being held in the lap, the rhythmic sucking motion and the warmth of mother’s body create a nurturing environment that calm baby’s nervous system and promotes feelings of safety, pleasure and satisfaction.
Benefits for the Mother
Act of nursing is believed to activate the heart Chakra (Anahata), the centre of love, compassion, and nurturing energy which promotes feelings of love, devotion, maternal instinct and helps to overcome the challenging postpartum period. The intimate physical contact stimulate release of oxytocin “love hormone,” in mother’s brain, promoting feelings of relaxation, happiness and better aspect of parenting. It decrease cortisol level (stress hormone) which helps to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Release of endorphin (feelgood hormone) act as natural painkiller, decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relax muscles, gives pleasure and tranquility.
One can Enhance Breastfeeding Experience by creating Sacred Space, practicing mindful Breastfeeding, following healthy diet and lifestyle.
Breast milk is not just food; it is considered as “Amrit” or nectar, infused with the divine essence of the mother’s love and vitality.