The Impact of Maternal Health on Breastfeeding Duration

Authors

Yael Weinberg

Abstract

The mechanism of breastfeeding is a complex biological process beginning with hormone production from the pituitary gland and ending with the ejection of milk from the breasts. Mothers are recommended to breastfeed exclusively for six months and then continue for another six with the addition of solid food. However, despite the countless health benefits associated with lengthened breastfeeding for both mother and infant, many women dismiss this recommendation. This paper aims to research the aspects of maternal health that can derail the recommended duration of breastfeeding, focusing on emotional health, nutritional intake, and various diseases or surgeries. It is found that negative emotions, like postpartum depression, will cause a mother to cease breastfeeding early on while positive feelings will do just the opposite. Nutritionally, the research shows that maternal dietary choices marginally affect milk composition, showing no correlation between poor nutritional intake and a shortened breastfeeding duration. Illnesses, including HIV, diabetes, obesity, or PCOS, are all shown to be detrimental to a lengthened breastfeeding duration. Surgically, procedures due to breast cancer leave many women unable to nurse or with extreme challenges when it comes to successful lactation while breastfeeding after cosmetic procedures often fails due to psychosocial reasons rather than a failed milk supply. Maternal health and its impact on breastfeeding duration have been researched by the author for this paper using the Touro Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ProQuest databases for the various journal articles they provide.

Recommended Citation

Yael Weinberg. (2023). The Impact of Maternal Health on Breastfeeding Duration. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 17(1), 107-116. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol17/iss1/14