Longer breast feeding helps babies develop bigger brains
March 30th, 2011 - 5:42 pm ICT by IANSLondon, March 30 (IANS) Breast feeding for longer stretches could be a safe way to help babies develop bigger brains.
A three-year study of 128 mammal species, including humans, found that longer pregnancies and longer suckling times produce bigger brains in babies, possibly leading to a higher IQ.
The study suggests that women who breastfeed their babies for up to three years following nine-month pregnancies have a long period of dependency because it is required to support the growth of 1,300cc brains, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.
But animals such as fallow deer, which have roughly the same body weight as humans, are pregnant for just seven months with a suckling period of up to six months.
This results in 220cc brains, six times smaller than human brains, according to the Daily Mail.
Robert Barton, anthropologist from Britain’s Durham University, said: “We have discovered that brain growth in babies is linked to the amount of time and energy mothers invest in their child.”
“There is a strong relationship between specific issues in the way a mother invests in producing her offspring and a link between growth of the foetus and length of gestation.”
The scientists focused on brain and body size, maternal investment and life history variables in mammals such as gorillas and whales.
- Brain growth in babies liked to mothers' 'investment' - Mar 29, 2011
- 'Placenta key to pregnancy length' discovery ends 100-year mystery - Nov 17, 2010
- Humans and apes have mothers to thank for their large brains - Sep 07, 2010
- IVF babies from frozen embryos healthier - Jan 09, 2012
- Surgeon General advises more breastfeeding - Jan 24, 2011
- Lambs offer clues to why kids born to obese mums are fat - Mar 15, 2011
- Eating less during early pregnancy impairs foetal brain development - Jan 18, 2011
- Breastfeeding linked to stronger maternal response to infant's cry - Apr 21, 2011
- Flesh eating helped humans spread globally - Apr 19, 2012
- Iron deficiency during early pregnancy harms child's brain - Mar 23, 2011
- Dieting in pregnancy can lower baby's IQ - Jan 18, 2011
- Flu shots ensure birth of healthy babies - Feb 22, 2012
- 'Women who smoke give birth to lighter babies' - Jun 03, 2012
- Mother's love responsible for bigger brains in humans - Sep 08, 2010
- Obesity-high blood sugar combo creates pregnancy risks - Apr 12, 2012
Tags: anthropologist, brain and body, brain growth, breast feeding, daily mail, durham university, fallow deer, foetus, gorillas, human brains, journal proceedings, life history, london march, mail robert, mammal species, national academy of sciences, proceedings of the national academy, proceedings of the national academy of sciences, robert barton, safe way