We untangle the true from the false gently and without judgment.
In the collective imagination, breastfeeding is often presented as the key to the mother-baby bond . A fusional, magical, almost instinctive experience.
But is this always the case? And above all... is this the only possible path to this precious connection?
At Milky Hour, we know that every parent-baby relationship is unique. So today, we're exploring this topic with heart and nuance: between biology, emotions, and freedom of choice.
🧠 What the science says: a real hormonal boost
Breastfeeding promotes the secretion of oxytocin , nicknamed the "love hormone." This hormone plays a key role in:
- Milk ejection
- The feeling of well-being
- Attachment between mother and baby
✨ It also works on the baby, who rediscovers the smells, the warmth, the voice of his mother during breastfeeding.
🧬 Biologically, breastfeeding does indeed create a favorable environment for attachment . But...
⚠️ … it is not a necessary step to create a bond
The attachment bond is not just a way of feeding. It is built in:
- The exchanged look
- Skin-to-skin contact
- The hugs, the rocking, the sweet words
- The sensitive and regular presence
💡 A bottle-fed baby in the arms of a caring parent develops just as much emotional security.
In other words: the bond isn't just for breastfeeding mothers. Nor for mothers in general. It's built through the quality of the relationship, day after day.
🤱 Breastfeeding without feeling a magical connection? That's normal too.
Some mothers breastfeed... without feeling that famous “fusion bond” described in idealistic stories.
And that's OK.
You can breastfeed by choice, by convenience, by conviction—without necessarily experiencing each feeding as a suspended moment.
You may even find it routine, exhausting, or frustrating at times.
This doesn't call into question your attachment. Maternal love is also an emotional and mental construct , not a hormonal injunction.
💡 Milky Hour sweet tip
"The bond with your baby is not about what you do, but about how you are there."
🫶 Each mother-baby duo has its own language
Some mothers experience breastfeeding as a bubble of intimacy. Others prefer the bottle as a moment of connection. Some rely on a breast pump, others on a hand-held device. And all, in their own way, create a bond.
👉 This link is not in the gesture… but in the intention, the presence, the constancy .
💬 In summary
Breastfeeding can strengthen the mother-baby bond, it's true. But it's neither an obligation, nor a guarantee, nor an indicator of "good motherhood."
What matters is not how you feed your baby , but how you look at him, touch him, talk to him, love him —in your own way.
And never forget:
✨ You are already everything your baby needs to feel loved.