Breast milk helps premature babies´ brain development, study suggests

Giving premature babies breast milk rather than formula aids their brain development and offers them ‘the best start in life’

• Babies born before 37 weeks have worse learning and thinking skills as adults
• This is because of alterations in the structure of a crucial part of their brain 
• The new findings add to the host of benefits of feeding babies ‘the natural way’ 

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Giving premature babies breast milk rather than formula may aid their brain development, research has revealed.

Babies born before full-term – 37 weeks – are thought to have worse learning and thinking skills as adults.

An array of studies has linked their hampered ability to alterations in the structure of part of their brain that helps cells communicate with each other. 

Scottish scientists have now found giving premature babies breast milk could alleviate their reduced brain connectivity.

Babies born before full-term – 37 weeks – are thought to have worse learning and thinking skills as adults (stock)

The findings add to the host of benefits of feeding babies ‘the natural way’ as researchers say it will give even the most vulnerable premature babies ‘the best start in life’.

Edinburgh University researchers analysed MRI scans of nearly 50 premature babies. The babies had all been born before 33 weeks gestation.

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Scans were conducted on their brains when they were around seven weeks old – roughly 40 weeks after conception.

The team also collected information about how the infants had been fed while in intensive care – either formula milk or breast milk from either the mother or a donor.

Babies who exclusively received breast milk for at least three-quarters of the days they spent in hospital showed improved brain connectivity compared with others.

DOES BREASTFEEDING AFFECT WOMEN’S RISK OF CANCER?

Breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of breast cancer, a report suggested in August 2017.

For every five months a woman breastfeeds, her risk of developing breast cancer is lowered by two percent, a study review found.

Researchers believe breastfeeding protects women against the condition as it makes them temporarily stop getting periods, which reduces their lifetime exposure to the hormone oestrogen.

High oestrogen levels have previously been linked to developing breast cancer.

Breastfeeding may also help to remove cells with damaged DNA that may otherwise lead to tumor onset.

The researchers, from the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, analysed 18 studies that examined breastfeeding.

Of these, 13 investigated the effects of the length of time spent lactating. 

The report also found that carrying excess weight after menopause increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, yet it is protective while women are still able to conceive.

For both pre- and postmenopausal women, alcohol increases their risk of breast cancer and exercise reduces it, the report adds.

Babies who are breastfed are also less likely to gain weight in later life, the study found.

Study author Alice Bender said: ‘It isn’t always possible for moms to breastfeed but for those who can, know that breastfeeding can offer cancer protection for both the mother and the child.’ 

Professor James Boardman, study co-author, said: ‘Our findings suggest brain development in the weeks after preterm birth is improved in babies who receive greater amounts of breast milk.

‘This study highlights the need for more research to understand the role of early life nutrition for improving long-term outcomes for pre-term babies.

‘Mothers of pre-term babies should be supported to provide breast milk while their baby is in neonatal care if they are able to and if their baby is well enough to receive milk.’

Professor Boardman said this would give their children ‘the best chance of healthy brain development.’

The study, published in the journal NeuroImage, was welcomed by Sarah Brown, president and trustee of Theirworld, which funded the research.

She said: ‘This latest report delivers valuable evidence to support breast milk feeding for even the tiniest, most vulnerable premature babies, to give them the best start in life.’

Ms Brown said an ‘immense debt of gratitude’ is owed to the families who allowed their children to take part in the study to benefit other premature babies in the future.

NHS guidance advises that babies are exclusively fed the ‘natural’ way for the first six months of their life.

Britain has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, despite repeated Government campaigns designed to encourage women.

Breast milk contains antibodies passed on from the mother, which boost a baby’s immune system and help it fight infections and viruses.

There is also evidence that breastfed babies have higher IQs and are less at risk of obesity – because formula milk is higher in fat.

Breastfeeding is also deemed beneficial for the mother because it enables her to bond with the newborn.

It also enables her to lose weight, as nursing mothers burn up to 500 calories a day extra, according to studies.

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