After birth

The mother's body continues to work for her infant after birth by making milk. This milk production will continue as long as the infant nurses. The need for nursing keeps them working as a unit. This is simply a continuation of what had been happening in the womb. One major difference, of course, is that the mother does the work automatically when the baby is in the womb. After the baby is born, the mother has to think about what she is doing and actually move to meet the baby's needs.

She provides the following:

1. Food
2. Temperature control
3. Protection
4. Immunity to certain diseases through antibodies in her milk
5. A familiar heartbeat
6. Familiar movements