Nurtured streams: a tribute to maternal bonds and breastfeeding

Abstract

Breastfeeding, particularly breast pumping, can at times be shrouded in societal judgements that impose enormous stress on mothers, potentially affecting the quality of breast milk and thus the well-being of their infants. As a mother and a university student, I leveraged my personal experiences to research the impact of maternal stress on breast milk and the well-being of infants. The investigation was grounded on a thorough review of the literature, encompassing pivotal studies by Grey et al. (2013) and Hinde et al. (2009), as well as a comprehensive analysis of two case studies that identified a correlation between maternal psychological stress, milk cortisol levels, and infant temperament or how babies behave. These studies prove that a mother's emotional well-being has measurable effects on breast milk quality, which in turn influences infant temperament, as indicated by changes in cortisol-infused milk and changes in nursing infant behavior. In response to these results, I developed an art installation that incorporates sounds, visuals, and interaction to convey an intricate story of breast pumping mothers. This effort goes beyond the simple act of pumping; it goes into the broader narrative encompassing love, sacrifice, and determination in the midst of stress and societal judgment. The purpose of this artistic endeavor is to stimulate interaction, knowledge, and compassion, emphasizing the vital need for an accommodating environment for pumping mothers who are balancing housework, child care, academia, or professional duties. The objective is to raise awareness and push cultural change towards a more empathic understanding of the experiences of moms who pump, hence establishing a more supportive environment in workplaces and educational settings.