(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 5)
Norepinephrine & Learning
Breastfeeding also causes dopamine and its product, norepinephrine
(adrenaline), to be produced, which help maintain some of the effects of the
early bonding. They enhance energy and alertness along with some of the pleasure
of attachment. Norepinephrine helps organize the infant's stress control system,
as well as other important hormonal controls in accordance with the nature of
the early rearing experiences. It promotes learning about the
environment-especially learning by memorization that is carried out by oxytocin,
opioids, and other chemical influences.
Pheromones & Basic Instincts
How does the man's body know to initiate hormonal changes when he is living
with a pregnant female? How can an infant accurately interpret mother's "odors"
that adults often can barely detect? The answer is pheromones. Among other
things, pheromones are steroid hormones that are made in our skin. Our bodies
are instinctually programmed to react accordingly when we detect these
pheromones around us.
Newborns are much more sensitive to pheromones than adults. Unable to respond
to verbal or many other cues, they apparently depend on this primitive sense
that controls much of the behavior of lower animals. Most likely the initial
imprinting of baby to odors and pheromones is not just a matter of preferring
the parents' odors, but is a way nature controls brain organization and hormonal
releases to best adapt baby to its environment. Baby's earliest, most primitive
experiences are then linked to higher abilities such as facial and emotional
recognition. Through these, baby most likely learns how to perceive the level of
stress in the caretakers around her, such as when mother is experiencing fear or
joy. Part of an infant's distress over separation may be caused by the lost
parental cues about the safety of her environment. Of course the other basic
sensation an infant responds to well is touch, and coincidentally, body odors
and pheromones can only be sensed when people are physically very near each
other.
What the World Needs Now . . .
Infants universally cry when laid down alone. If we allow ourselves to
listen, our neurons and hormones encourage us in the proper response. Babies are
designed to be frequently fed in a fashion that requires skin-to-skin contact,
holding, and available facial cues. Beneficial, permanent brain changes result
in both parent and infant from just such actions. Contented maternal behaviors
grow when cues are followed. The enhancement of fatherhood is strongly provided
for as well. A father's participation encourages his further involvement and
creates accord between father and mother. Frequent proximity and touch between
baby and parents can create powerful family bonding-with many long-term
benefits.
Sadly, over the last century parents have been encouraged by
industry-educated "experts" to ignore their every instinct to respond to baby's
powerful parenting lessons. Psychologists, neurologists, and biochemists have
now confirmed what many of us have instinctually suspected: that many of the
rewards of parenthood have been missed along the way, and that generations of
children may have missed out on important lifelong advantages.
Dr. Linda Palmer retired from her chiropractic practice when the health
challenges of her son and the parenting style objections from those around her
led her to extensive research efforts, culminating in her writing of a healthy
parenting book, Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring
for Your Baby.
