Why is Maternal Love Considered the "Best Nutrition" for Infants?

Why is Maternal Love Considered the "Best Nutrition" for Infants?

There's a story from the United States: 40 years ago, a 6-month-old infant born with cerebral palsy and blindness was abandoned by their parents on a New York street. A kind-hearted nurse adopted the child and tirelessly raised them with boundless maternal love. Through careful education and nurturing, this child eventually grew up to become a musician. A nutritionist evaluated this miracle, stating, "The most nutritious thing in the world is not any amino acid or high-grade protein, but the priceless maternal love that money cannot buy."

The precious role of maternal love begins with the fetus. When women are pregnant, they shower their unborn babies with meticulous care: providing increased nourishment, exercising, avoiding harmful stimuli, creating a favorable prenatal environment, practicing prenatal education, and ultimately enduring the pains of childbirth to bring their babies into the world. Within the womb, the fetus can constantly hear the mother's heartbeat, the vibrations of uterine contractions accompanied by amniotic fluid movement, and the sounds of intestinal peristalsis, all contributing to their comfort and sense of safety. Once born and separated from the maternal body, the baby enters a different world, constantly exploring and being vigilant against threats from the environment. Initially, newborns can't hear the reassuring sound of their mother's heartbeat, a symbol of security, so they eagerly seek their mother. When they hear their mother's voice, they instinctively turn their faces towards the source of the sound. When picked up by their mother, they move towards her breast like swimming—attempting to nurse.

Research indicates that a baby's crying can stimulate the mother's milk production, and when the baby's skin touches the mother's chest, the mother's body secretes hormones that inhibit postpartum bleeding. As a result, postpartum mother-infant contact not only promotes emotional bonding but also offers significant benefits to both parties' health. children who are meticulously cared for by their mothers tend to be intelligent, clever, and endearing. Surveys show that children who receive maternal affection have an average IQ score 15 points higher than those who lack maternal love. Thus, it's clear that maternal love truly constitutes the "best nutrition" for infants.

During infancy, the most common parent-child conflicts arise from neglecting the child's emotional needs. One mother discovered that her child, who had reached school age, became excessively sensitive to others' gaze. He would become angry whenever someone looked at him, perceiving them as hostile. He exhibited introverted behavior and frequently engaged in aggressive actions. The root of this behavior was traced back to the fact that the mother rarely held or spoke to the infant during their early years. This lack of a strong mother-infant relationship resulted in the development of the child's undesirable character traits, illustrating the crucial significance of maternal love during infancy.

According to the UK's Daily Mail, adults who received maternal love in childhood tend to have better physical health. Researchers found that individuals who grew up in a relaxed environment are less prone to anxiety and have a lower risk of developing diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. This could be attributed to children who experienced parental care being more knowledgeable about self-care practices, better equipped to cope with stress, and more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In present-day China, there are numerous left-behind children in rural areas who lack parental care and are deprived of familial affection. These children are prone to feelings of loneliness and have an even greater need for maternal love.