|
|
IQ, Intelligence and Brain Development- More
Breastfeeding Benefits
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!
Are you a Mom who likes doing things the natural way? Come visit http://www.natural-moms.com
for articles, resources and products that complement your natural
mothering style.
Article Source: www.ladypens.com
|
