Breast-feeding

While many mothers-to-be are advised about the 1 of breastfeeding, what they may not be told is that the effects go well beyond physical health. A new study finds babies breastfed for long periods have better performance on intelligence tests, greater school achievement, and higher monthly incomes as 30-year-olds. While past research has found higher intelligence 2 among breastfed babies, what is so significant about this study is that the researchers were able to collect more complete information on breastfeeding duration and also followed for a longer period. And, by using a population-based birth 3, the breast feeding practices had no association 4 income level. Most of the evidence of higher intelligence test scores among breastfed babies comes from high-income countries, where middle-class and higher-class mothers are more likely to breastfeed their babies than lower income mothers- certainly in the United States, breastfeeding rates 5 this trend. With evidence coming from first-world countries 'Where breastfeeding is positively associated with higher socioeconomic status'. Horta explained, 'There is always a question of whether the effect that has been observed in other studies is a consequence of breastfeeding by itself or has the result been 6 by socioeconomic status.' Specifically, higher income babies are most likely eating better quality food and this could be impacting IQ test scores.