Infants' brains developed better with breast milk

[midnight armadillo]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2006/07/10/infants_brains_developed_better_with_breast_milk/?p1=MEWell_Pos3

Infants' brains developed better with breast milk

By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press | July 10, 2006

The tiniest premature infants fed with breast milk in the hospital did better on tests of mental development later in life than did others fed only formula, a new study has found.

The research is the first to show the benefits of breast milk for babies born weighing less than 2 pounds 3 ounces. With medical advances, hospitals are saving more of these babies, some born more than three months early.

For these infants, brain development that would normally occur in the womb during the third trimester of pregnancy must occur in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital, said study co-author Dr. Betty Vohr of Brown Medical School in Providence.

Ingredients in breast milk, particularly fatty acids, seem to help the brain develop properly, she said.

more at link. I am the father of two breast-fed boys, 2.75 yrs and 3 months :D

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. duh.

feeding them the natural way vs. a man-made substitute?

I was 17 when I had my first one, and I knew that formula was not even close to the same thing.

[shanti]

2. right

don't have to give much thought to this one. natural is better. the breast is the best.

[shadowknows69]

19. Although as an adoptee

who never had breast milk (to my recollection but then again everything back then is a little fuzzy) I consider myself pretty smart. More so than the average Joe if I may be so bold. Imagine the enormity of my genius if I had access to the natural tap. Sigh.

[K8-EEE]

3. Just A Word To Anybody Who Has A Hard Time Breastfeeding

Do NOT let people freak you out. The first couple of weeks can be tough (and hurt a bit) but after that breastfeeding is SOOOO much better and EASIER! REALLY!! I know people who had to stumble out of bed and heat bottles and test them and all that while the baby wailed, when you breast feed you just take them back to bed with you for a bit and they don't wake up all the way. They are less fussy and the diaper changes are better, it is natural the first day or two for a lot of feeding to get only a little results, that is the way it starts. Don't let people start with the formula that first day! Things get flowing in a day or two. So get yourself a La Leche League buddy and tune out all the nay-sayers! I had a lOT of nay-sayers in my family with my first one, LOL!

[renate]

6. and even if the La Leche League can't help

I couldn't recommend pumping more strongly, if nursing doesn't work (believe me, I tried EVERYTHING--the hospital breastfeeding clinic, paid and volunteer La Leche helpers, those bottles and tubes you tape to yourself, etc). I pumped for 15 months and actually came to prefer it in terms of convenience (though not in terms of bonding... although nursing didn't really work, I did love it for the closeness). And in my case, at least, pumping really increased milk production--even though I didn't have the letdown reflex to give her enough milk with regular nursing, we had a freezer full of stored milk.

[rucky]

10. First couple days is colostrum (sp?)

which is really really good stuff!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. yep. antibodies and high nutrition.

It is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume (measurable in teaspoons rather than ounces), but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html

[OnionPatch]

18. So true, it gets soooo much easier

I had such a hard time at first that I almost gave up. But I kept at it and am glad I did. After the first month or so, it became so very easy. No bottles to wash, no getting up in the middle of the night, no worrying about the contents or nutrition content of formula. (Although I certainly watched my own diet.)

I nursed my daughter until she could drink from a cup at one and a half years old and am so glad I didn't give up in those early weeks.

Edited to add: I found a ton of help and support from the discussion forum at breastfeeding.com

[Quantess]

4. ...

[bananas]

5. It's even better if they drink it straight from the tap

develops hand-eye coordination.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. Maybe they just now have the studies out to back this up, but

when my youngest was born 6 weeks premature (nearly 30 years ago) my pediatrician was very happy that I was breastfeeding and said that it was the best thing I could do for him. Of all my children, I think he probably got the greatest benefit from breast milk.

[salvorhardin]

8. This makes a lot of sense

The myelin sheathing on our nerves improves conductivity (makes your nervous system faster) so it makes intuitive sense that having an adequate supply of fatty acids to build myelin sheaths out of early on could lead to increased performance later on. Not that the article implies this is what's happening, or that I'm sure about this. I'm just speculating.

[rucky]

9. My 20-month old is a genius.

and still breastfeeding.

email her if you need any help with the NYT Crossword.

[midnight armadillo]

17. My older son nursed til 21 months

We'll see how long the younger one goes, he's not quite as dedicated a nurser. The older one would nurse any time milk was offered, would comfort nurse, etc. The little guy only likes to nurse when he's hungry. He will definitely do at least a year though, he doesn't get too much choice.

The older boy used to pound on the couch, pat his chest with a big smile, and call my wife with cries of 'Ma ma ma!' (translation: ma-ma milk) around a year or so. It was just the cutest thing in the world, I can't imagine bottle feeding being so much fun for the babies :)

[AspenRose]

20. I'm still nursing mine at 17 mos.

eom

[movie_girl99]

12. this explains it

both of my kids are brilliant!!! jk...I have always heard that if possible breast feeding is so beneficial in so many way.

[LostinVA]

13. Well, as long as they don't breastfeed in Victoria's Secret

giggle

[movie_girl99]

14. that's for sure.

I cant figure it out, people look at a woman breastfeeding like she has the plague.

[Dora]

15. Let's not forget that breast milk is free!

Having babies is exspensive. Breast milk isn't.

[TahitiNut]

16. Gee ... who woulda figured that's what teats were for?

:dunce:

:evilgrin: