mother as PCG

# The mother as the primary care-giver:

## Feeding:

The NHS recommends that infants are breast-fed for the first 6 months of their lives as it offers the healthiest start for children in protecting them from a range of infections and diseases.

- It is also suggested that breastfeeding can enhance and build a strong emotional bond between mother and baby, which is essential in future development.

>**Link to Freud:**

>Freud suggested the idea of the five psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital).

>- Freud also suggested that fixations or overindulgences in any one of these stages may lead to different personality traits. For example, a fixation in the oral stage may lead to pessimism and sarcasm.

>This would suggest that Freud agreed that the mother should be the primary care-giver of children. However, it is important to note that when Freud was researching this, it was in the early 1930/40s, when it was expected that women would stay home and look after the children, but this is not the case today.

>**Links to Bowlby**:

>Bowlby researched the link between early separation between mother and baby and delinquency.

>- In Bowlby's study of 44 thieves, he found that those that had been separated from their mothers at a young aged showed signs of the affectionless character, something that Bowlby claimed to be more prominent in those who commit crimes.

>This would suggest that Bowlby believes mothers should be the primary care-givers of infants. However, Bowlby recognised that mothers did not need to be the primary care-givers, but that mothers and infants would have a stronger bond; Bowlby also suggested that the emotional relationship between mother and baby acts as a template for all future relationships of the infant.

>- Bowlby famously described the bond between mother and baby being as important as vitamins for physical health.

Both of these have large social and ethical implications for society.

>**Social**:

>- If babies are to be fed for the first 6 months of their lives - 'anywhere, anytime necessary' - then mothers should potentially be given at least 6 months maternity leave.

>**Ethical**:

>- The idea that mothers should breastfeed their babies anytime the baby requires it for a 6 month period is a hugely demanding task, especially after going through the process of labour and pregnancy. Many mothers experience post-natal depression, which can be enhanced if there is a stress to make babies latch for breast-feeding. This may harm mothers massively psychologically.

>- Additionally, fathers may feel they have no place/are less important parents, causing psychological harm too.

In terms of biology, it is easier to say that women are more suited to be the primary care-givers of infants; they are able to directly breastfeed, and can form strong emotional bonds with babies (i.e. through skin-to-skin contact, releasing the hormone oxytocin).

- - -

This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration among fathers, potentially impacting their mental health and involvement in caregiving.