Breastmilk for Preemies Helps Long-Term Brain Development

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

A new study out of Brown Medical School in Rhode Island finds that premature babies that receive breastmilk rather than formula during their early days score much higher on mental development tests later in life.

Breastfeeding is Good for the Brain

The results were published in the journal Pediatrics and cites the fact that micro-preemies are often born up to three months early. That means that they are exiting the womb long before the brain has a chance to finish it's early development. The study finds that the fatty acids that are naturally found in breast milk contribute to better brain development during those early days.

Labels: Stats and Studies

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