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Evidence from a quiet MRI: Breastfeeding benefits babies’ brains

By Guest PostJuly 1, 2013Healthbreastfeeding, breastmilk only group, douglas dean, formula, irene piryatinsky, magnetic resonance imaging, mri, mri machines, non breastfed kids, sean deoni

A study using brain images from “quiet” MRI machines adds to the growing body of evidence that breastfeeding improves brain development in infants. Breastfeeding alone produced better brain development than a combination of breastfeeding and formula, which produced better development than formula alone.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — A new study by researchers from Brown University finds more evidence that breastfeeding is good for babies’ brains.

The study made use of specialized, baby-friendly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at the brain growth in a sample of children under the age of 4. The research found that by age 2, babies who had been breastfed exclusively for at least three months had enhanced development in key parts of the brain compared to children who were fed formula exclusively or who were fed a combination of formula and breastmilk. The extra growth was most pronounced in parts of the brain associated with language, emotional function, and cognition, the research showed. (more…)

Breastfeeding: Not only for young teens

By Guest PostMay 8, 2013General, Healthbaby, birth control, breast milk, breastfeeding, brianne, dennis degrazia, emotional bonding, hormone, human body, malnutrition, misconceptions, mother and child, natural attribute, oxytocin, per pregnancy weight, post labor hemorrhage, teen mom, young teens

When a teen mom is considering breastfeeding, it may be a tough task for her to break misconceptions, she has about breastfeeding. For example, many teens prefer bottle feeding as a healthier choice over breast feeding. They also believe that their breasts will lose their shape and it is “old school.” Teen moms, just like adults consider many factors when choosing breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is by far one of the most natural attributes of the human body. Breastfeeding is a nature’s gift and has its own benefits:

· According to research, when teen moms breastfeed their baby immediately after delivery, the uterus slowly contracts reducing the risk of post-labor hemorrhage. Also, nursing helps you to slowly regain your per-pregnancy weight, which often results in shedding off those extra pounds. Breastfeeding when done the right way, slows periods, which acts as a effective form of birth control. This is really beneficial for teen moms who cannot access other forms of birth control during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also reduces the chances of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. (more…)

Samoan Obesity Epidemic Starts at Birth

By Guest PostFebruary 12, 2013Healthamerican samoa, birth, breastfeeding, brown university, early infancy, epidemiology, gain weight, macrosomia, nicola hawley, obesity, pacific island, pediatric obesity, polynesian populations, population, risk factor, samoan epidemic, samoan obesity epidemic, stephen mcgarvey, united states, us mainland, westernized

Born slightly heavy on average, a sample of hundreds of infants in American Samoa continued to gain weight quickly after birth, achieving high rates of obesity within 15 months. Breastfeeding slowed weight gain in boys. Findings may presage infant obesity in other populations where obesity is increasing population wide.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — As some Pacific island cultures have “westernized” over the last several decades, among the changes has been a dramatic increase in obesity. Researchers don’t understand all the reasons why, but even a decade ago in American Samoa 59 percent of men and 71 percent of women were obese. A new Brown University study finds that the Samoan epidemic of obesity may start with rapid weight gain in early infancy. (more…)

Testosterone-fuelled Infantile Males Might be a Product of Mom’s Behaviour

By Guest PostMay 19, 2012Healthaggression, behavioural traits, breastfeeding, environmental factor, infancy, key hormone, male reproductive organs, maternal diet, maternal smoking, parent child interactions, Richard E Tremblay, saliva sample, sexual behaviour, testosterone, testosterone level, twins, university of montreal

By comparing the testosterone levels of five-month old pairs of twins, both identical and non-identical, University of Montreal researchers were able to establish that testosterone levels in infancy are not inherited genetically but rather determined by environmental factors. “Testosterone is a key hormone for the development of male reproductive organs, and it is also associated with behavioural traits, such as sexual behaviour and aggression,” said lead author Dr. Richard E. Tremblay of the university’s Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment. “Our study is the largest to be undertaken with newborns, and our results contrast with the findings gained by scientists working with adolescents and adults, indicating that testosterone levels are inherited.” The findings were presented in an article published in Psychoneuroendocrinology on May 7, 2012. (more…)

Very Few Low-Income Moms Meet Breastfeeding Recommendations

By Guest PostMarch 16, 2012Healthaffluent population, awareness, breastfeeding, breastfeeding mother, caucasian, infants, jennifer hanna, key role, kissimmee, mari douma, medicaid population, michigan state university, mother, obstacles, physicians

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Less than 2 percent of low-income mothers met breastfeeding recommendations in a recent study – a drastic decline compared with a more affluent population – and a lack of support and available resources appears to play a key role.

The research findings out of Michigan State University suggest in addition to raising overall awareness of breastfeeding, especially among women of lower socioeconomic status, physicians can play a role in removing barriers that prevent new mothers from breastfeeding. (more…)

Tag Archives: breastfeeding

Evidence from a quiet MRI: Breastfeeding benefits babies’ brains

Breastfeeding: Not only for young teens

Samoan Obesity Epidemic Starts at Birth

Testosterone-fuelled Infantile Males Might be a Product of Mom’s Behaviour

Very Few Low-Income Moms Meet Breastfeeding Recommendations