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

breastfeed.

PICOT

This literature review was conducted to examine the benefits 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 to Nursing 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 the last 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 positive psychosocial 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,
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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
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN NEWBORN INFANTS 6

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,
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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.
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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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