Breastfeeding
And IQ, Intelligence And Brain Development
By Carrie Lauth
Modern
parents want to do everything they can to help their children's
brain development.
Never
before have there been so many products and books sold that claim
to help parents stimulate their baby's brain, assist in brain development,
and give baby an intelligence "edge".
Recently,
a variety of studies have come to light that tout the benefits of
breastfeeding on brain development and intelligence.
How
does breastfeeding benefit the brain?
It
comes down to a couple of important things, some of which are tangible
and measurable, and some that are not.
The
Importance of Fats and Other Essential Nutrients in Breastmilk
Breastmilk
contains the ideal ratio of fats, amino acids and other nutrients
that baby needs for brain and nervous system development. These
ingredients provide the ideal basis for the "hard-wiring"
component of a person's intelligence.
For
instance, Taurine is an important amino acid found in high concentrations
in mother's milk. (In contrast, it is almost nonexistent in cow's
milk.) Taurine has an important role in the development of brain
tissue, among other things. A baby's body is unable to form Taurine
on its own, so s/he is totally reliant on his food to supply it.
Another
important ingredient of mom's milk are fats. Breastmilk contains
high amounts of important fats, such as DHA and ARA. These are very
important components of brain structures, and research has shown
that breastfed infants have higher concentration of these essential
fats in their brain and blood than do formula fed babies.
Some
artificial baby milk manufacturers are adding Taurine and DHA to
their formulas, but this does not make these identical to mother's
milk. Researchers have concluded that there is an important interplay
between all of the components of breastmilk that cause this effect,
and that this effect can't be duplicated.
Cholesterol
is another ingredient found in high concentrations in breastmilk.
It is needed to build tissue in the brain and nervous system. Babies
need cholesterol in the first two years of life. (Incidentally,
there is evidence that points to a connection between cholesterol
in breastmilk and the ability to handle dietery cholesterol in adulthood.)
Studies comparing breastfed children and their formula fed peers
in different ages and stages of life show time and again that breastfed
infants do better on various tests of intellectual ability. Some
have shown these differences persisting for many years.
Even
after the differences in socioeconomic status were accounted for
or eliminated in these studies, breastfed children still clearly
come out ahead.
In
fact, one study showed that premature infants who were breastfed
had significantly higher IQs than formula fed babies, and when babies
were fed a combination of breastmilk and formula, their cognitive
scores were directly related to the amount of mother's milk they
received.
Breastfeeding
and Hormones- Both Baby's and Mom's
Mother's
milk has a high level of endorphins in the first few days after
birth. This helps the baby ease the transition to life outside the
womb.
When
babies are stressed out, their tiny bodies are in "fight or
flight" mode, and essential energy is diverted away from growth
and development, which would have an obvious effect on the brain.
Additionally,
a nursing Mom is biologically a different animal than a non-breastfeeding
one.
For
instance, when a woman breastfeeds, her body is flooded with pleasure
hormones, one of which is Oxytocin, the so called "love hormone",
that is also present during orgasm. This hormone helps her to feel
relaxed and bonded with her baby. Oxytocin triggers nurturing activity,
which no doubt plays a huge role in baby's cognitive and emotional
development.
Since
lactation suppresses the nervous system response to stressful stimuli,
a happy nursing Mommy means a happy baby!
What
are some of the intangible benefits that breastfeeding has on brain
development and IQ?
Breastfeeding
Promotes Physical Closeness and Emotional Health
In
recent years a lot of emphasis has been put on "Emotional Intelligence".
How does breastfeeding assist with helping a child develop this?
The
closeness of breastfeeding is an important bridge between baby's
intrauterine life and his new experience of being out in the world.
Studies
have shown that babies who receive lots of physical contact with
their primary caregiver, and lots of stimulating eye contact and
"conversation" are getting important brain stimulation
that gadgets and toys cannot produce.
That
is not to say that a formula feeding Mother doesn't do this, but
a breastfeeding baby can't help but have lots of skin to skin contact
and interaction with his Mother!
Breastfeeding
also gives Mom a chance to reconnect with her busy crawling baby
or walking toddler, who seems to spend all his time running from
Mom. Having several quiet moments during the day to kiss those dimpled
hands, sniff that sweet smelling head, and tickle those fat feet
(that will be bigger than your own soon enough) is an important
way for Mom and Baby to achieve that closeness.
The
late Dr. Lee Salk, pediatric psychologist, said that "The baby
whose cries are answered now will later be the child confident enough
to show his independence and curiosity. But the baby left to cry
may develop a sense of isolation and distrust, and may turn inward...later
in life, this child may continue to cope with stress by trying to
shut out reality."
The
closeness of breastfeeding makes for a happier baby, one who is
settled inside and who trusts that another human will be there to
meet his needs, instead of an outside gadget. Don't we want our
children learning this important lesson from infancy?
Of
course, breastfeeding does not automatically ensure that a child
will be smart, but it can be a way to virtually guarantee that a
child lives up to their full genetic potential for emotional intelligence,
smarts and IQ!
About the Author: More breastfeeding help and a free newsletter
for Moms who do things the natural way at http://www.natural-moms.com.
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