Breastfeeding is a key issue found in ancient sources that resonates with public debates today, affecting women in different parts of the world and of all social classes. The aim of this research was to identify breastfeeding narratives in ancient medical and philosophical texts from the 1st to the 6th century CE that address ethical issues in the medical management and social perception of new mothers. We examined 15 literary sources and one funerary inscription on lactation and critically evaluated the ancient idea of the perfect breastfeeding mother versus the non-breastfeeding mother. We then discussed our historical data in terms of objectivity and significance in relation to contemporary attitudes towards motherhood and lactation, e.g., (1) the cult of the perfect, breastfeeding mother in contemporary lactation education and (2) the onset of conditions which may affect normal breastfeeding, such as dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER), breastfeeding aversion response (BAR) or post-partum depression. The analysis of the results showed that in both ancient and contemporary postnatal health care: (1) good mothering is associated with breastfeeding and (2) alternative feeding methods are acknowledged, but never as the best, natural option. Finally, our analysis shows that public health policies on breastfeeding and mothers' own knowledge of their bodies are contested between nursing theories, social expectations and economic factors.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10671742 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11222941 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A handheld milk conductivity sensing device (Mylee) for measuring secretory activation progress in lactating women: a device validation study.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
January 2025
MyMilk Laboratories Ltd. Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel.
Background: Human milk electrolytes are known biomarkers of stages of lactation in the first weeks after birth. However, methods for measuring milk electrolytes are available only in laboratory or expert settings. A small handheld milk sensing device (Mylee) capable of determining on-site individual secretory activation progress from sensing the conductivity of a tiny milk specimen was developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity and lack of breastfeeding: a perfect storm to augment risk of breast cancer?
Front Oncol
October 2024
Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer with higher rates of recurrence and distant metastasis, as well as decreased 5-year survival rates. Racial disparities are evident in the incidence and mortality rates of triple negative breast cancer particularly increased in young African American women. Concurrently, young African American women have multiple risk factors for TNBC including higher rates of premenopausal abdominal obesity (higher waist-hip ratio) and lower rates of breastfeeding with higher parity, implicating these factors as potentially contributors to poor outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly Life Energy Balance: The Development of Infant Energy Expenditure and Intake in the Context of Obesity.
Curr Obes Rep
December 2024
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA.
Purpose Of Review: This review aims to provide a summary of the current knowledge on measurement tools and most recent evidence for prenatal and postnatal modulators of energy balance in young infants.
Recent Findings: The prevention of pediatric obesity depends upon curating the perfect imbalance of energy intake to energy expenditure, taking into consideration the energy needs for healthy growth. We summarize the recent evidence for the programming of fetal and infant metabolism influenced by maternal preconception health, prenatal metabolic milieu, and physical activity behaviors.
Personalized Nutrition with Banked Human Milk for Early Gut Microbiota Development: In Pursuit of the Perfect Match.
Nutrients
June 2024
Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain.
The correct initial colonization and establishment of the gut microbiota during the early stages of life is a key step, with long-lasting consequences throughout the entire lifespan of the individual. This process is affected by several perinatal factors; among them, feeding mode is known to have a critical role. Breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for neonates; however, it is not always possible, especially in cases of prematurity or early pathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreastfeeding challenges and the impact of social support in Iranian Muslim mothers: A cross-sectional study.
Women Health
February 2024
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
Breast milk is the perfect food during infancy. Adequate support from family and health systems can be helpful to continue breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the status of breastfeeding challenges and its relationship with social support and socio-demographic factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!