3 Facts About The Development of the Infant Brain
Here are 3 facts about the development of the infant brain and how the relationship between mother and child is so vital to a child’s growth, development and future.
1.) Breastfeeding newborn Infants on cue is vital to the neural development of the child.
“We know that a baby has virtually all his or her neurons in place by 18 weeks gestation, all 180 billion of them…(and) will need to develop a rich synaptic network over the next three-plus years…the number of synapses (connections) doubles between 18 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, again by birth at around 40 weeks of pregnancy, and yet again by the time the baby is 8 months old,” (1).
Breastfeeding infants on cue, especially in the first three months after delivery (the fourth trimester) is vital not only to the nutritional health of the infant, the establishment of the maternal milk supply, and growth of the baby but also to the neural development of the child. The development of the infant brain is a very delicate process.
2.) The level of care that a baby receives at an early age affects the child's ability to foster rational decisions and emotional relationships later in life
“One of the things that sets human beings apart from animals is that we are designed first and foremost for relationship…Therefore, relational ability must be fostered from the beginning. The constant presence and touch of the mother as she carries, strokes, and comforts form a critical component that helps the baby to learn how to regulate his or her own emotions. This ability is the cornerstone of thoughtful decisions and the ability to experience emotional intimacy later,” (1).
The infant’s relationship with his or her mother is the foundation that shapes future relationships and decision-making as the child gets older. “A 4th Trimester perspective acknowledges that intensive caregiving is necessitated by infants’ biological needs and requires substantial adjustments and sustained investment by primary caregiver, usually mothers. Infants are as dependent on their caregivers in the weeks and months after birth as they were leading up to delivery…and expect to be held and cared for,” (2)
3.) Stress can cause a rewiring of the baby's brain
“As little as ten minutes of crying alone causes baby’s blood oxygenation to decrease, blood pressure to rise, stress hormones to release, and even tiny brain bleeds to occur…(and with regularity) actually rewires the baby’s brain to become anxious, depressed, and/or to experience other unhealthy states,” (1).
Do you know that stress can cause a rewiring of the baby’s brain synapses? Just a few minutes of crying alone can make a huge impact on both the baby’s mental and physical health. That is why it is so important for the baby to be closely nurtured and cared for during these early and fragile phases of life.
Infants are born to seek relationship and attachment. Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact help to provide healthy attachment and bonding. Feeding on cue (demand feeding) is also vital to this relationship. If you found this post informative then you may also be interested in a previous post on how forgetting the past is actually a form of learning.
Kathy
Referrences
References:
- Williams, N.(2016). Designed for relationship. Retrieved 8/1/20 from http://www.ezzo.info/designed-for-relationship
- Tully, K.P. and Ball, H.L. (2018). Understanding and enabling breastfeeding in the context of maternal-infant needs. in Breastfeeding: new anthropological approaches. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, pp. 199-211. Retrieved 8/1/20 from [PDF]ac.uk
