There was a lot of breastfeeding research to report in 2011. My summary is below. You can see past annual research summaries for past here: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Studies on babies:
Researchers in Denmark found an association between breastfeeding and lowered risk of epilepsy. The longer babies were breastfed, the greater the protection, and exclusive breastfeeding was also associated with increased protection.
A meta-analysis on SIDS and breastfeeding found that the rate of SIDS was 60 percent lower among infants who had any amount of breastfeeding compared to those who were not breastfed and more than 70 percent lower in infants that been breastfed exclusively for any period of time.
A study published in Pediatrics found that breastfeeding was associated with higher academic achievement in boys, but not girls. The authors found that predominant breastfeeding for six months or longer was associated with increased math, reading, writing, and spelling scores for boys.
Another breastfeeding/intelligence study found that longer duration of breastfeeding, as well as higher levels of long chain fatty acids in breastmilk (colostrum), were associated with higher mental and psychomotor development at 14 months.
A study found that your children of mothers who had gestational diabetes are less likely to become obese if they are breastfed.
A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that babies who were breastfed had greater leg strength as adolescents.
Another study found that breastfeeding protects against asthma.
Ear infections are on a steep decline, and increasing breastfeeding rates could be one of the reasons why.
Breastfeeding associated with stronger cardiovascular health at age five. Strangely, breastfeeding for less than three months or more than six months showed no effect.
Breastfeeding appears to program infants' metabolism. Breastfed infants in this study had a distinct growth pattern and metabolic profile than formula fed infants. These differences faded by age three, though blood pressure remained lower in breastfed children.
Breastfeeding is associated with fewer behavioral problems at age five. They're less likely, according to this study, to lie, steal, be anxious, or hyperactive.
Breastfed children scored higher on math and reading assessments at ages 5, 7, 11, and 14. Interestingly, breastfeeding for as little as four weeks seemed to have an effect.
Studies on breastfeeding itself:
Two studies (here and here) found that receiving IV fluid during labor can inflate a babies' birth weights, making it appear that they are losing an excessive amount of weight in the first few days, as they shed this fluid.
A randomized, blinded, controlled study on tongue tie found that fretonomy (clipping the frenulum) decreases nipple pain. The researchers had intended to determine if it also increases the duration of breastfeeding, but nearly all of the mothers in the "no-clipping" group ended up chosing to have the procedure done, so they couldn't compare!
The U.K. showed a big jump in breastfeeding rates. One of you suggested that this may have to do with increases in immigration from countries where breastfeeding rates are higher. Demographics as destiny, again!
Six months of exclusive breastfeeding is just fine for babies, another study found. This study found that milk supplies were perfectly adequate - in fact, higher than the literature previously reported - and that when moms are well supported, babies gain just fine.
Formula discharge bags are on the decline, a study found. The percentage of hospitals refusing to distribute the bags in 10 surveyed states doubled (from 14% to 28%) between 2007 and 2010.
A study in Pediatrics found that babies who are fussier get solids earlier than babies who are not. Babies who were viewed as fussy by their mothers were almost twice as likely to get solids. In the sample of mothers in the WIC program in North Carolina, "nearly 20 percent of 1-month-olds were fed solid foods or juice. By three months, 70 percent of the children were eating something in addition to milk or formula."
A study from St. Jude's Children's Hospital concludes that childhood cancer survivors should be advised to breastfeed because it breastfeeding has “the potential to influence positively bone mineral density, metabolic syndrome risk factors, cardiovascular disease and secondary tumors - conditions negatively affected by childhood cancer.”
Studies on mothers:
A study from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that mothers who have had breast implant surgery and who believe that breastfeeding will cause their breasts to sag are far less likely to succeed with breastfeeding than those who don't hold this belief. The authors note that "although breasts sag more with each pregnancy, breast-feeding doesn't seem to worsen these effects in women with or without breast implants."
In the first study to show differences in brain activity among moms feeding formula or breastmilk, a study found that breastfeeding mothers showed greater responses to their infant's cry in brain regions related to caregiving behavior and empathy than mothers who relied upon formula as the baby's main food source.
A study found that breastfeeding problems are associated with postpartum depression. Of note, research has also shown that breastfeeding - when it's going well - is protective against postpartum depression.
Longer breastfeeding duration is associated with higher levels of ghrelin and pancreatic peptide YY at three years postpartum. This is protective against metabolic syndrome. This research adds to Dr. Alison's Steube's work drawing connections between breastfeeding and lowered risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
Few babies in childcare receive pumped milk. The study pointed to lack of overnight storage of breastmilk as one factor. They did find a high rate of comfort with the idea among the providers surveyed.
A study found that breastfeeding does not protect mothers against multiple sclerosis relapse. I found this really disappointing, as prior research had been suggesting the opposite.
Low levels of oxytocin in late pregnancy is linked to higher risk for postpartum depression. Oxytocin is a key hormone of lactation, so it's not a huge leap to suggest that this is one reason why breastfeeding lowers the risk of postpartum depression.
In a novel set of studies, nursing mothers were viewed as less competent and less likely to be hired than other women.
A study found that mothers who have longer maternity leave initiate breastfeeding at higher rates, and breastfeed longer.
And, finally, a few eyebrow-raising studies:
A study showed that nursing mothers do have a "mama bear" instinct while breastfeeding (see picture of bear in my yard!)
Birds can "lactate," too. The study analyzed the genes and proteins of the "milk" of pigeons, flamingoes, and male emperor penguins, produce a "milk" with antibodies and fats which serve the same function as mammalian colostrum. These three species are the only ones known to produce this "milk."
An analysis showed that the longer a species nurses its young, the larger brains they have.
Stem cells in breastmilk can be "programmed" into other cell types.
The researchers who discovered HAMLET (Human Alphalactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumors) have succeeded in mapping how it kills tumor cells. HAMLET has been shown to kill over 40 different types of cancer cells, including tumors in the lungs, kidneys, prostate, ovaries and bowel. The Lund group believes that the protein complex is not formed until the milk is in the baby’s stomach.
A study of 18th and 19th century bones demonstrated the value of breastfeeding in protecting infants.
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