Children who are breastfed are less likely to develop neurological conditions, including autism, a new study found.

It's weird to me that if people don't like the results of research then it much be wrong. Research isn't done to make people feel better about themselves as - bizarrely - a lot of people here seem to think it should be.

I have a child with ASD that was breastfed for 2 years, that doesn't mean this is wrong, just as it doesn't mean it's wrong because there are other people on here with children that were BF for 6 months + and are ND. The evidence of individual people's children doesn't prove or disprove this. It says there is a 28% increased risk, it's not saying every BF baby for 6 months + be fine and every FF baby will be ND. It's also not saying there isn't a genetic factor.

There are lots of studies suggesting a longer period of exclusive BFing is associated with a reduced likelihood of ASD diagnosis. You can just Google it and see. Just because people don't like it or don't find it helpful doesn't mean it must be untrue.

Publishing in an internationally recognised medical journal is more or less the opposite of snake oil nonsense though?

I understand the dangers of public perception that you point out (I have a child with autism) but I don’t think that’s a good enough reason not to do these studies tbh.

The same thing happens on any threads about breastfeeding research. But with regards to the neurodivergence angle, the problem is absolutely with the daily mail and not with the study. See quote from the study:

"This work evaluated the potential contribution of breastfeeding to favorable development. The aim of this study was not to alter or reduce neurodivergence but rather to maximize each individual child’s abilities and minimize functional gaps, thereby promoting inclusion of neurodiversity in a world with a majority neurotypical population. We made efforts to define relevant variables while being constrained by the secondary use of data."

That the daily mail takes this study and says that breastfeeding could cut your child's autism risk by 30% is a grotesque misrepresentation.

Can you provide a critique of the study please? Just calling it bullshit isn’t helpful - why do you think this?

Nope not at all- just calling out bullshit.

Nope , we are just sick of snake oil nonsense that tries to convince the public that neurological conditions can somehow be caused or prevented by food/medicine/other.

Not only is this dangerous, because it can makes people think they can cure themselves/their children, it also helps the public feel less bad about themselves when they are cheering on removing support for people with neurological conditions because they can help themselves be better if only they are the right food/did the right exercise/took this oil .

Definitely. Pretty sure my 2 older children are diagnosed ND because their dad and I most likely are. my youngest is just a baby still but wouldn’t surprise me if she is ND too. Again, because it can run in families.

Exactly. I think people are immediately thinking "this study must be bullshit because it claims a benefit of breastfeeding" and then retroactively trying to find something wrong with it.

The original study is the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open.
It’s a reputable source.

It’s clear from this thread people don’t want this study to be true I think. That doesn’t make it untrue. It’s a study at a population level. Individuals here who BF autistic children or vice versa can’t contradict the overall trend shown. You need huge numbers to do that.

It is obviously correlation only, so who knows about causation.

(Largely undiagnosed) autistic mothers are more likely to have sensory issues that make breastfeeding difficult. They’ve also passed their autistic genetics to their children long before they start feeding them.

Just my theory on any correlation.

Come on.

Not only is there lots wrong with the study you’ve posted (correlation does not equal causation for one), also ask yourself - is this helpful?

Or are you just taking potshots and trying to hurt parents who’ve done their very best to rear their children with the very best resources they could dependent on their circumstances and ended up with a child who is neurodiverse. Which could and probably would have happened no matter what. But now they feel even more guilty.

Bloody hell. Life’s hard enough.

Which are?

And weak for several other reasons

Yes, about autism or any other specific conditions it's vague because it didn't separate them out in the results. Like I said the study is not about autism as the DM headline makes it out to be.

No it was weak and vague. It was also looking at babies that bf exclusively for 6 months

The existence of research is not a personal attack.

The DM article hyped it up to be all about autism when it isn't. The actual study is about developmental delays in general and also looked at neurodevelopmental conditions in general. There were no conclusions about any one condition in specific which is where this article is bollocks.

But the study which PPs have linked did have a huge sample size and used sibling pairs to control for variables. They did find a significantly higher likelihood of developmental delays at 2 or 3 years old for a child who had never been breastfed compared to their sibling who had been breastfed.

Also having to sit for a long time. If you have adhd that is really hard. Having a partner take on a lot of the feeding os a huge help if you are ND.

I am thinking Autisitc mothers struggle more with breast feeding due to sensory issues- hypersensitivity to pain etc. Autism is genetic so more autistic children are likely to have parents who struggled with breastfeeding. Does not mean the bottle feeding was the cause.

No it isn’t more evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding it’s complete and utter bullshit. Did you even read the article.

It’s an Israeli “study” ( vague as to exactly who did it) that just looked at a few medical records. The article even states :-
“Additionally, this study was observational and cannot prove that breastfeeding will prevent any NDC. “

They didn’t even specify which NDCs they’re taking about and even the article states

“Separate researchers have said better screening, raised awareness and a broader diagnostic criteria are driving the surge. “

Most importantly widespread research shows Autism and adhd are often hereditary.

Here's me grappling with the fact that my child has autism and thinking 'so much for breast is best'.

Parents don't need this crap. Most FF babies will not be neurodivergent. So will most BF babies.

I did have a decision…but it was between breastfeeding while feeling suicidal and formula-feeding and wanting to live. I had to cold-turkey wean my second baby and once she was on formula and I was on medication, it was like the part in “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy opens the door and everything changes from sepia to color.

My mom has ADHD. She breastfed me until I was one. I have ADHD. I breastfed my older daughter until she was fifteen months. She has ADHD. I breastfed my second daughter for seven months. She has ADHD.

It’s the genetics, not the presence or absence of breastmilk.

Ok...? Sounds like bullshit. I exclusively breastfed both of mine for 13-15 months. Both autistic, the one I breastfed for the longest is more profoundly affected, non verbal etc. Genetics are a huge factor.

Correlation does not equal causation. Maybe disabled kids don't feed as well.

I couldn't care less about any study.

My daughter was entirely formula fed, then when she started to eat, she didn't like my cooking, so ate little jars of baby food. I couldn't BF, my boobs just couldn't produce milk and she's turned out alright. Top set for everything, 7s and 8s for GCSEs. No health problems, no neurological symptoms whatsoever, has never been overweight. So that and most case studies are inaccurate for my child.

Take it all with a pinch of salt.

Usual groups trying to make women feel guilty about their choices.