Breastfeeding Versus Bottle Feeding - New Research Suggest That Mother's "Breast" Makes Baby Smarter!
Breastfeeding versus Formula - Mothers Know Best!
Author of Study - Michael Kramer from the Montreal Children's Hospital.
"These results, based on the largest randomized trial ever conduced in the area of human lactation, provide strong evidence that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding improves children's cognitive development," said study author Michael Kramer from the Montreal Children's Hospital.
Is it best to breastfeed your baby?
I nursed each and every one of my own five babies, and did not supplement while breast-feeding them - with formula. Experts have just released the latest findings about the positive effects of breast-feeding your baby. Particularly breast-feeding without supplementation! Apparently... breast-fed babies are smarter than other babies! Yikes!
This newest study about the benefits of breast-feeding, has nursing mothers everywhere celebrating. Like I said, I breast-fed all five of my babies and getting started and sticking to it can be a real challenge. It's very easy to give-up and give-in to bottle feeding your baby when the going gets rough. You can read more about this study by using the link below...
Am I suggesting that there is anything wrong with bottle-feeding your baby? Absolutely not! What I am saying, is that for those mothers who really want to breast-feed their babies, but run into the typical problems that new mothers will inevitably have getting started and sticking to it - this newest research just released is going to give some mothers that little extra umph to hang in there - sore nipples and all!
Research suggest that the breast is better!
The newest research on breast-feeding your baby is now suggesting, quite convincingly - that the longer a baby has been breast-fed, without forumula supplementation - the smarter the child is likely to be. That's big! So, if you happen to be a mother who is struggling with breast-feeding or even trying to decide whether or not you will breast-feed your expectant baby - this newest study just might make you think that breast-feeding is the only way to go!
But what about moms who just can't breast-feed for reasons out of their control? Or even worse - because they choose not to, for personal reasons? Does this now suggest that moms who give the bottle to their babies, are less nurturing than other moms? If you happen to be a young mother, up to say age 30 -35, I would let you in on a few things....Is it more womanly to breastfeed your baby?
I say - Mother's know best!
First, do what you are most comfortable doing as a woman and mother. The conversation and research about breast-feeding versus bottle-feeding a baby has been going on for decades now. When I was a young woman expecting my first child, everything "natural" was what was "in". I took the Lamaze classes to learn to breath right. I read everything I could get my hands on, so that I would know "how" to bring that baby into the world and be the best mommy in the world.
Then, by the time I had my fourth baby, and then my fifth baby... why -- what do you know? They went and changed a lot of the advice that had been adamantly delivered by reputable resources at the time my first baby was born!
Oh no! So what was I supposed to think at this point? Did I do it all wrong with my first baby? She was and is quite smart. LOL Now that my fifth baby is 16 years-old - I am looking at him and thinking - you too are quite smart! Now my second, third and fourth babies got a little mix... a bit of formula for convenience sake mixed in with mama's milk. There. I admitted it. I actually DID supplement with formula on occasion... me bad? At least with the babies that would let me get away with it. Certainly NOT my first! LOL
Well, come on... after all, I needed a bit of help as a mother. I couldn't possibly meet every need - of all five babies - with the boob! I really appreciated having that bottle on occasion, even though I was a very committed nursing mother. At the time, I felt just fine about these decisions. Guess what? I still do!
Mothers today are the SMART ones when it comes to their babies!
I'm sorry. I realize that the research these scientist do is important. But when it comes to the health of our babies, and choosing to nurse or not nurse - most woman without defense - will readily accept the fact that "nature" will always be the most credible way to nurture our children physically.
But today, choosing to bottle-feed your baby can have just as many benefits as nursing your baby. Bottom line, a mother's milk will only be quality - if a mother herself is eating right and taking care of herself. How then, can these studies really be accurate enough to really say "which" way is better to go for mothers and how they choose to feed their babies.Take formula and test it against one mother's milk supply - take the same formula and test it against "another" mother's milk supply... Problem is, quality control is impossible when it comes to mother's breast milk. Therefore, these test are simply variable. How many variables is difficult to ascertain in this kind of a study.From NewsDay.com -
"The study is limited by the fact that the researchers don't know whether the positive effect on intelligence scores comes from breastfeeding or from characteristics of the mothers who are more likely to nurse. The researchers didn't include the cognitive abilities of the parents."
What about the emotional health of babies?
Like all the big studies in research - they can take days to actually read them. What we get in the news, is someones personal "take" on the findings or results of these research studies. I admit it - I have not read the entire research paper, but I am guessing that neither have most of the sources that are reporting on this study.
I imagine that most, have grabbed hold of only one part of this study and are now running with it.... "BREASTFEEDING YOUR BABY WILL MAKE THEM SMARTER...." . I call that sensationalism!
You mothers are doing the absolute best for your babies when it comes to feeding them. What I do know, and need no study to inform me - is that the emotional well-being of your baby is more important in their overall development that whether you choose to breast-feed or bottle-feed your babies.Feeding the soul of your baby... is what mothers do best!
A Mother's Love - is what is BEST for all babies!
During my years as a young mother, and from all those many books and magazine articles that I read... the one single common sense piece of advice I took from it all --- was; whether I chose to nurse my babies or bottle-feed them on a given day - hold them close.
Holding your baby close to you during feeding time, when they are tiny - develops a trust - that will not come any better - by what they are fed. The smartness that you want your children to know - is that they are loved! What greater gift is there really? A mother's love, regardless of how it comes - is what babies need for life, health and their overall well-being!Moms, please unite - and do not let another divisive "report" - separate women, who really need each other's support - during this most wonderful time of motherhood.Please, just relax and enjoy your little ones... it passes much too quickly!Write On!Feeding your baby right!
- News: Women who do not breastfeed their infants are nearly four times more likely to neglect and abu
- Breast-fed children found smarter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new study provides some of the best evidence to date that breast-feeding can make children smarter, an international team of researchers said on Monday. Children whose mothers - Breastfeeding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Infant formula - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Breastfeeding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
