Carrying two human beings in a span of three years is no easy task. Adding pregnancy complications -- borderline gestational diabetes, my second one in transverse-lying position, Grave's disease, and tandem breastfeeding made my pregnancies more challenging. However, I believe that these are not showstoppers in making me the best mother in the world to my two children.
Interested in the biological aspects of breastfeeding and attachment parenting? Here's an excerpt from Sarah Buckleys' book, Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering (2009):
1) Prioritize the ongoing and ready availability of a primary caregiver - ideally the mother - through the first one to three years. This will optimize attachment and ensure the smooth development of emotional and physical self-regulating capacities.
2) Relish ongoing and liberal breastfeeding and co sleeping through first year and beyond. This will optimize hormonal caretaking and reward systems (oxytocin, prolactin, beta-endorphin), enhance mutual regulation for mother and baby, and optimize breast milk supply and nutrition,k with long-term health benefits for mother and baby.
