One article--and one set of research--would have us think so. Perhaps this story is more the sort that would fall under "Pregnancy Fact or Fiction," as breastfeeding in general is a REALLY hot topic, but let's investigate the findings.
To be honest, before we get started, I'd like to point out that this story feels very familiar. That's probably because it is. We never seem to stop talking about breastfeeding--those for it, those against it, etc.--I guess that discussion is a good thing. Way back when no one ever talked about breasts or using them for anything other than filling out a bullet bra.
In this most recent study, 14,000 babies were studied by an international research team. Their findings suggested that breastfeeding makes babies smarter, especially when not mixed with formula. The way the process worked was a little unsettling to me, though: half the mothers were strongly encouraged to breastfeed and the other half were given no encouragement.
As someone who was a recent new mom myself, I can't say that a lack of encouragement would be especially helpful. I guess I wouldn't want the medical staff breathing down my neck about it either, but it would seem especially unfair to a new mom to not encourage her to give breastfeeding a chance. I was able to breastfeed, but I was also given a ton of support and encouragement from everyone from my family to the OBGYNs and nurses to our ParentDish readers. Not everyone gets that kind of support.
What really upset me about the article are some of the other assertions made by the researchers, namely that mothers who breastfeed are "different" because they are smarter and more invested in their children. Say WHAT? So, someone who chooses to not breastfeed or can't breastfeed given the circumstances is not as invested in her child? I disagree. Completely.
Yes, current wisdom holds that breastfeeding is the best thing since sliced bread. Hopefully it's true. But considering we live in a society where women are in fierce competition with one another to be the best mommy ever coupled with all the controversy already surrounding breastfeeding, I think it's a tad out of line to suggest that a woman is less invested in her child because she chooses to not breastfeed.
The results of the study did not include how breastfeeding was thought to make babies smarter. It was asserted that the close contact/time spent with the child could be more nurturing. It's also possible the vitamins, proteins and minerals present in the breastmilk have a different effect on the brain.
I'm certainly no expert and can't speak for anything except my own experience. Will Mr. Pickles turn out to be smarter? Who knows. What I do know is that he'll be smarter than me--kids always outsmart their parents at some point. Let's just hope he doesn't figure out how to open the front door locks. He's already disabled all our childproofing devices.
1. I am going to put myself out there by saying that perhaps what makes mothers who breastfeed different than mothers who do not is the physical skin to skin contact they consistantly get with baby. The emotional bond if hightened by the physical one, so perhaps that makes the mother more 'engaged'. That isn't to say parents who formula feed are not capable to have the same physical bond, but it is harder to structure in the time, and many parents rely on others to help feed baby (or they use props, or when baby is old enough to hold them own bottle, letting them do it).
Also, there have been pretty comprehensive studies that show that less educated, lower income mothers tend to breastfeed less consistantly, and for shorter times. Be it because they need to go back to work sooner (and can not afford the nice breastpump) or because they do not realize the benefits of breastfeeding, the economic and education line is there.
Perhaps a hypothosis you can agree with is that mothers who are economically better off are able to be at home with their kids, thus their breastfeeding relationship is not threatened by having to leave baby, and they are also able to give baby more one on one floor time. So it isn't the way they feed baby that makes them 'different', it is the circumstance that creates the two effects.
Posted at 12:23AM on May 6th 2008 by ivory