Why is breastfeeding science so controversial?
Another issue, according to critics, is that the authors of the new breastfeeding study do not fully acknowledge the protective properties of human milk on an infant’s immune system. Dozens of studies show that human milk is uniquely good for infants’ healthy development.
What affect does breastfeeding have on intelligence?
Compared to those infants who were exclusively formula fed, results showed a 2.1 point difference in IQ at age 8 for children exclusively breastfed and an increase of 1.5 IQ points in children who received mixed feeding.
Who shouldnt breastfeed?
Mothers infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or type II should not breast feed their babies. Mothers who are taking illegal drugs like cocaine, PCP, heroin, marijuana etc. are not allowed to breastfeed their babies.
Why are breastfed babies smarter?
Some researchers suggest that it only appears that breastfeeding is responsible for the increase in intelligence and problem-solving skills, but that’s not the case. Instead, the reason breastfed children do better is because they are more likely to grow up in an environment that supports cognitive development.
Are there studies on the effect of breastfeeding on IQ?
When the authors did this, they found that the effect of breastfeeding on IQ was 0.02 points – basically, zero. This is by no means the only study on the relationship between breastfeeding and IQ, and it is not the only study that uses this method.
Are there any NICHD studies on breastfeeding?
The PROBIT study , which was partially funded by the NICHD, examined the influence of an intervention to promote breastfeeding. The PROBIT study consists of four individual studies: PROBIT I, II, and III are complete and PROBIT IV is in progress.
Which is the largest breastfeeding study in the world?
The PROBIT study is the largest cluster-randomized controlled trial ever conducted on breastfeeding. The study is based on the long-term follow-up of 17,046 healthy mothers and infants who were originally enrolled into the trial in the Republic of Belarus in Eastern Europe.
What’s the relationship between breastfeeding and child outcomes?
There is a key issue with estimating the relationship between breastfeeding and child outcomes, which is that women who breastfeed are different from those who do not. Women who breastfeed tend to be more highly educated and richer, for example.