Breastfeeding your newborn baby is positive in several ways. Ties are tied, the baby receives important nutrients and this can, among other things, help prevent postpartum depression in the mother. But there may be other benefits, according to British research. In a new study, it has been found that there is a connection between how long the mother breastfeeds and how high IQ the child gets. The results showed, among other things, that children who were breastfed for a long time scored higher on cognitive tests from the age of 5–14. – It is important to map this as children’s cognitive development can affect future education and income base. Differences in breastfeeding can increase social inequalities, says Reneé Pereyra-Elías to news. He is a fellow at Oxford University in England and has led the study. – We were surprised Together with colleagues, Pereyra-Elías analyzed data from almost 8000 newborns. All were born in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2002. The children were followed until they were 14 years old. The data showed, among other things, how long the mothers breastfed their children and how the children growing up did so on a number of cognitive tests. The tests were conducted when they were five, seven, eleven and 14 years old. The children who were breastfed the longest had the best results, regardless of age. This was also the case when taking into account differences in socio-economic status, as well as maternal intelligence. – We were surprised that the differences lasted so long. They did not decrease with age. The differences were even a little bigger at the age of 14 compared to before, says the researcher. According to the study, about 33.9 percent of children were never breastfed. 23 percent were breastfed for six months or longer. Do not know for sure what is the cause Similar research has also previously found a connection between breastfeeding and intelligence. But what is the cause of this, one does not know. – In developed countries, women with higher socio-economic status are more likely to breastfeed their babies longer. The same goes for women with higher IQ. It has been claimed that the connection between the duration of breastfeeding and the baby’s cognitive development may be due to these factors, says Pereyra-Elías. But even when these factors were taken into account in the new study, differences were still seen. According to the researchers, the differences in the children’s intelligence are not huge, but it has a lot to say when you look at the big picture, Pereyra-Elías explains. – It is important to remember that the potential gain in cognitive ability among children who have been breastfed for several months, only corresponds to two to three IQ points (in the usual IQ scale, where the average is 100). – But if an entire population on average increases their IQ by two – three points, we can see important differences. Meets many desperate mothers Anne Sigstad is the general manager of Breastfeeding Aid. She believes it is important to research breastfeeding in all aspects, and useful to confirm that it is about more than just nutrition. She says they meet many desperate mothers who struggle with breastfeeding, and that help for these is not a high priority in the Norwegian health care system. Last year, they registered 25,000 inquiries. – We get many inquiries from desperate mothers who need help. Breastfeeding assistance is not a priority in the health care system. It does not give money at the checkout at the hospitals to provide preventive guidance, she says to news. There is also no requirement for a professional update on breastfeeding by health nurses, doctors and midwives, Sigstad says. – The breastfeeding help, which is a voluntary organization of lay people, is often contacted when “everything else has been tried”. And we are as desperate as the mothers. We also have nowhere to refer people. It should not be the case that it is up to the parents’ place of residence and financial ability if they have private actors available. Anne Sigstad is the general manager of Ammehjelpen. She says previous studies have shown that as many as 1 in 3 mothers have problems with breastfeeding. During the pandemic, the number was even higher. Photo: Private May be important for the future Ann Karin Swang, leader of the National Group for Health Nurses in Norway, also finds the research interesting. She says that many people struggle with breastfeeding, and that it is a challenge to be sent home from the hospital prematurely. Ann Karin Swang says that they experience that slightly older mothers, in their 40s, are perhaps the ones who struggle the most to get breastfeeding. Photo: Julie Bendiksen / news – Then it is important that health nurses can use their expertise at the health station – that you have time to provide breastfeeding guidance and other support. We welcome all research in this area, but especially Norwegian research, says Swang. Researcher Reneé Pereyra-Elías believes the new study focuses on something important. And that this can have value for the future. – If we as a society manage to improve the inequalities in breastfeeding, we also have the potential to even out social inequalities in future generations. What is Breastfeeding Aid? The Breastfeeding Aid is a voluntary organization that provides free information, guidance and support for questions about breastfeeding and breast milk, based on knowledge-based practice. The breastfeeding help consists of about 200 breastfeeding helpers. To become a breastfeeding assistant, you must have your own breastfeeding experience, submit a police certificate, read the syllabus and pass the breastfeeding assistant assignment. In 2020, breastfeeding assistants reported 25,000 inquiries in, distributed on social media, telephone, text message and email. The breastfeeding help works to ensure that no one has to stop breastfeeding or breastfeeding against their will because they do not receive the correct information, good enough guidance or support in the situation. Breastfeeding help helps mothers by phone, email and social media. They operate and update ammehjelpen.no, which with its more than 100 articles is Norway’s largest online source of information about breastfeeding and breast milk.
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Researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and intelligence in children – news Trøndelag
