Presentation Information

Feeding with Feeling: How Breastfeeding Shapes Reflexes, Regulation, and the Neurobiology of Maternal-Infant Attachment

• Speaker: Dyah Febriyanti , MD, IBCLC, FABM
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits:

Abstract:

Breastfeeding is far more than a means of nutrition—it is a biologically orchestrated, emotionally charged process that supports the infant’s neuromotor development, orofacial growth, and emerging sense of safety. This presentation explores how direct breastfeeding activates and integrates primitive oral reflexes—such as the suck-swallow-breathe synchrony—and facilitates the transition from brainstem-driven patterns to mature, cortically mediated oral motor function.

This presentation highlights the central role of the vagus nerve in this process, showing how direct breastfeeding uniquely stimulates parasympathetic activity, promoting emotional regulation and co-regulation within the mother-infant dyad. Disruptions in reflex integration or vagal tone—often linked to conditions like tongue-tie or ineffective latch—can contribute to feeding challenges, infant distress, and interrupted bonding. By emphasizing the neurobiology of attachment, this session underscores the irreplaceable value of direct breastfeeding in shaping not only oral function but also the psychological bond and long-term health outcomes for both infant and mother. Attendees will leave with evidence-based insights and practical strategies to support the maturation of oral motor pathways, optimize feeding, and foster deeper relational attunement in early life care.