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What can we really get from this latest breastfeeding study?? I say nothing!

By May 5, 2008 - 4:34pm
 
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So I just read the latest EmpowHer news story about a study that shows that children who were exclusively breastfed, compared to children who were breastfed and fed baby food, had higher IQs.

Here's one of the problems I have with the study, as quoted from the article....

"The one thing Kraemer is sure of is that it has nothing to do with differences between mothers. The women in the new study were all from the eastern European country of Belarus."

Okay, so all mothers who are from this country are all alike. We're really supposed to believe this?? They all have exactly the same parenting styles, they all have exactly the same socioeconomic backgrounds, they all have exactly the same opportunities, etc., etc.? (What are they, Stepford wives?!)

Puleeease....

We deserve better studies than this!!! Not just more of the same that serve nothing more than raising headlines.

Add a Comment1 Comments

Kristin,
I think the story from HealthDay News didn't emphasize quite enough that because this was a randomized experiment of a huge number of women, there really were no measured differences between the two groups in socioeconomic background, parenting styles, etc. (I've read the study.) This is what's supposed to happen if randomization is done properly. I think this is an extremely important study that finally confirms what a lot of other, weaker studies have suggested -- that breastfeeding really does somehow have a good effect on kids' intellectual development. People can find a summary of the study at http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/65/5/578.

May 5, 2008 - 9:04pm
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