Breastfeeding

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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CMTMom

20 Posts

does anyone have a link to this infamous thread? I have occasionally posted on bf.commie, though I think "they" are rather over the top... I'm interested in reading all about how you guyses are the "big, bad cause of all my breastfeeding relationship woes" :rolleyes: :D

indeed

65 Posts

About the breastfeeding-makes-babies-smarter thing...my siblings and I were all given soy formula from day one (mum is SUCH the closet hippy) and we turned out ok. It's like that Mozart thing......as if Mozart or breastfeeding are the responsible parties in this equation and not, say, consistent meaningful interaction and stimulation. Arh well.

Indeed.

mark_LD_RN

940 Posts

i will try to find the research article i read on it, and no it was not at BF.com. it was a real research project.

LasVegasRN

835 Posts

Originally posted by CMTMom

does anyone have a link to this infamous thread? I have occasionally posted on bf.commie, though I think "they" are rather over the top... I'm interested in reading all about how you guyses are the "big, bad cause of all my breastfeeding relationship woes" :rolleyes: :D

The thread was closed and taken down. Thank goodness.

Dayray, RN

700 Posts

I know I read an article about this too can't recall when or where. The claim was that breast feeding made childern more comfortable and secure thus allowing them to learn fater and easier. The writter claimed she could tell by childerns school work weather or not they were brestfeed.

I'm pro breastfeeding but I dunno if it really makes them smarter

I dunno, either. The theory I heard from LLL is that the proteins in mothers' milk is "designed" to build brains, and the proteins in cow's milk is "designed" to build beef.

I've got 2 daughters, one I was only able to bf for six weeks and the other I bf much longer. Non bf kid is about 30 IQ points lower than her sister - but she was also born almost a month and a half late and she had to be restarted at birth. Dead, that's can't be a great way to start out.

My mum bf all of her kids for about the same amount of time, and so that's more comparable. Plus a bigger "statistical universe." Six kids. But there's a pretty big spread in our relative intelligence.

I'm the oldest - so/so - average

Twin boys - Very intelligent

middle girl - just a bit brighter than I

youngest boy - Well into the genius range

youngest sister - quite a bit brighter than I

So I don't know - maybe they just got better at making kids as time went by? Put more thought into the males?

Love

Dennie

OBNURSEHEATHER

1,961 Posts

Ohhhhhhhhh gaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwdddddddd.....

Are we gonna get into this again?

The only way this "study" can be accurate is if the kids were raised by the same parents. I mean, how easy would it be to skew those results. A valid study will eliminate as many variables as possible, leaving one main factor as the factor being tested. Unless you can show me a study that shows 2 kids raised in the same home, by the same parents, with similar educations and opportunities to learn, and the bf kid was smarter than the bottle fed kid, then your study means about as much to me as the napkin my beer sits on right now.

Heather

Specializes in NICU.

You guys!! I am really surprised at you. I know that some of the posters on BF.com can get a little overzealous, but breastfeeding.com is actually a wonderful resource for breastfeeding advocacy, DESPITE the forums, not because of them. Here are a couple of links I found in just five minutes of web surfing:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/4/525

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.87853

http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html

Also:

Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.-

Human breast milk enhances brain development and improves congnitive development in ways that formula can not. One study has found that the average I.Q. of 7 and 8 year children who had been breastfed as babies was 10 points higher than their bottle fed piers. All of the children involved had been born prematurely and tube fed the human milk, indicating that the milk itself, not the act of breastfeeding, caused this difference in I.Q. level.

Another study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. An 18-year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed as infants had both higher intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who were infant-formula fed.

Lastly, actual resources that support this claim:

-Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Acadenic Outcomes", Jan 1998 Pediatrics

-Lucas, A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm." Lancet, 1992; 339:261-262Vol. 101, No. 1

-Morrow-Tlucak M, Haude RH, Ernhart CB. "Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life". Soc Sci Med. 1988:26;635-639

-Wang YS, Wu SY. "The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants." J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30

-Rodgers B. Feeding in infancy and later ability and attainment: a longitudinal study. Dev Med Child Neurol 1978; 20: 421-426

-Lanting C, et al. Neurological differences between 9-year-old children fed breast milk and formula-milk as babies. Lancet 1994; 344: 1319-1322

Now, it is entirely possible that people may be over-touting this particular result of breastfeeding, but I think ultimately it is only to encourage more people to do it. Let's face it, for the benefits that come from feeding human milk to infants (and I stress FEEDING IT TO THEM, whether it be by breast or bottle, vs. feeding them formula) our country is not very supportive or encouraging. Remember, also, that this is an AVERAGE result spanning a number of children. The AVERAGE may be 7-8 points higher, but the individual increase per child could vary from nothing to eight or more points higher than the next. Naturally, environment is highly influential, if not more so, than the effect breastfeeding alone would have on an infant's IQ. Either way, I absolutely do relate this study to my patient's parents because I have researched it, it is supported by many major legitimate organizations (Amer. Acad. of Peds, AWHONN, La Leche League, NANN, etc.), and I seriously doubt that this fact alone will encourage any mom to breastfeed, but combined with multiple factors, it may help change someone's mind. Ultimately, it all comes down to what is best for the babies. Just my opinion. ;>) You can all flame me to hell now. :D

mark_LD_RN

940 Posts

thanks kristi i was looking for links like that. we were talking about it at work and we pulled a couple of studies done by similac and other by enfamil they both stated similar findings that breast feed babies had higher IQ on average. one example is that they both recently discovered that breast milk as ARA and DHA that enhanced brain and neural development. so they are adding it to formula but they both say breast feeding is best and still has higher IQ than formula.

I am also surprised at a lot of nurses reaction to breastfeeding. all latest studies show breast feeding is the best for baby and mother.

hell I was not breast feed, it don,t upset me that someone says breast feeding produces higher IQ. I just feel You live and learn.

nurses should be an advocate of breast feeding, the patients need all the encouragement they can get.

hollybear

25 Posts

breast feedin is wonderful, i think it is best and all the literature i found says the same thing pretty much. i was not breast feed and do not feel ashamed of that fact. i will feed all of my babies and . nurses need to get over it and encourage people to do what is best for them and their babies.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Ok--- to me, this is simple. Why make it hard?

You try to educate your patients concerning breastfeeding versus bottlefeeding; advantages of each, if they are not already set in their choice. You help them understand breast milk is considered "best food" for newborns. After you do this....

THEY CHOOSE! AS A NURSE, YOU SUPPORT THAT CHOICE W/O ANY MILITANT PUSHING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AFTER ALL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU ARE A PATIENT ADVOCATE.

seems quite simple to me, politics aside.:p

mark_LD_RN

940 Posts

exactly what i do, i tell them the benifits. i support their choice either way. i let them know all the benifits so they can make an informed choice. i just think some nurses have issues with breast feeding. i have worked with some that just act like it is the worst thing since the holocost to breast feed

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