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

[EddyF]

Researchers studied 570,000 infants, about half of which were breastfed for at least six months.

They found exclusively breastfed babies were 28 percent less likely to be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition (NDC), such as autism, ADHD and cerebral palsy.

Breastfed babies were also 18 percent less likely to have delays in language and social milestones compared to babies who were breastfed for less than six months.

Babies who were partially breastfed - possibly supplemented with formula - were 14 percent less likely to have delays.

The reduced risk even persisted among siblings, who would most likely have similar genetic risks if they have the same parents. Those who were breastfed for at least six months were nine percent less likely to have milestone delays.

Article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14531215/amp/Parenting-choice-slashes-childrens-autism-risk.html

Ridiculous. Cerebral Palsy develops when something affects brain development in the womb or during birth. Most commonly oxygen starvation, or potentially infection and injury. Those parts of the brain is forever gone and can't be revived with.

So how does that fall in line with it going through families? My dad's family is the most autistic of all families all breastfed

This sort of thing reminds me of the daily articles online by tabloids like the Daily Mirror, claiming doing things like puzzles can prevent dementia, etc.

It's clickbait bollocks.

Well way to place more judgement at the feet of struggling parents. Oh, your child has Autism? Did you breastfeed? NO?! Well it’s your fault then 👀

My autistic son refused to breastfeed, he had CPA and reflux and had to have a special formula that he could keep down. Even the la leche league lady said sometimes it just wasn't possible. So yeah, correlation is not causation.

Neither do I based on my experiences. But I realised that years ago when the bf babies of friends had eczema, hay fever, and seemed to throw up at the slightest thing - and my two were strappingly healthy on Cow & Gate. Mine both had colic for a few weeks, but so did some of the bf babies.

Better tell my breastfeed autistic 10 to cop the feck on so

I fed that fecker till he was 2

Is this meaningless phrase still doing the rounds?

Fed is essential. It’s the bare minimum because if not fed the baby doesn’t survive.

Surely autism is already genetically programmed in. There could be something which makes autistic individuals less likely to be able to breastfeed (difficulties with feeding or attaching for example). With cerebal palsy the link is even more obvious.

Interesting but I still think genetics are more closely linked. I have two DC diagnosed with autism. One combination fed for 3 months, then FF. The other ebf until started solids but I breastfed her for 18 months altogether. The one that was breastfed longer always had more "obvious" traits. I wonder if the breastfeeding itself actually has any bearing or is just a coincidence given that autism likely develops before birth.

Thanks OP I will power up my Time Machine, not get very sick following giving birth and also not develop mastitis resulting in me only breast feeding for six weeks.

Oh yeah yippee! ANOTHER stick to beat women with.

Fuck the fuckity fuckington off whoever did this 'study!!'

And it's in the DAILY MAIL, so it must ALL be true! 🙄

Who knows. I suspect correlation not causation.

DS was breastfed until 2 1/2 years but is AuDHD.

My DB had cerebral palsy due to oxygen starvation at birth. He couldn’t be breast fed.

Republic of Ireland has very low breast feeding percentages, are there more children with Autism here??

It's not causation and I don't think trying to scare new mothers or have that family member who says oh but I saw a article about bf and autism helps anyone!

I bf my two til they were toddlers, happy to support any mother who wants to bf and have signposted friends to bf support when they asked (even dropped off frozen milk when I was a milk donor). But women shouldn't be or feel pressured into bf.

Correlation, causation or simply who filled in the survey?

my DD’s were both ebf both are neurodivergent, one has autism one has adhd!

AIBU about what. your post doesn't make sense

Hahaha my oldest child was ebf until 6 months and has cerebral palsy. I fed my youngest until he was nearly 5. Years. Old. I could not get the kid to stop he has AuDHD I dread to think of the state of them both if I hadn’t BF 🙄

I can't read the article (well, only because I refuse to open the link). Was this study adjusted for socioeconomic factors? Did they separate families into formula fed by choice, and through necessity? I can't imagine that many babies with cerebral palsy find breastfeeding particularly straight forward, for example.

Did they consider the needs of the mothers? I know I found breastfeeding extremely overstimulating/sensory overload. Is it possible that autistic mothers are more likely to struggle with breastfeeding in the first place?

What an absolute load of bollocks. One of my dcs was bf for 3 weeks, then we went onto the bottle, the other was breastfed for 7 months. Both are autistic. They were born with autism. It has nothing to do with the way they were fed ffs!!!!!!

Who cares. FFS this really annoys me. I wanted to BF but DS was premature Csection and he had low blood sugar so had to be fed hourly. so bottle it was.

oh the bitter comments from people about not BF and not having a 'natural' birth were venomous. Now I don't gaf. Children are born, as long as it is safely that's all that matters. Babies are fed, as long as they are fed that's all that matter. Let's be grateful our babies don't starve and die

Did it not occur to them that babies with cerebral palsy or some other conditions could be less likely to be able to breastfeed effectively, which is why they were switched to bottle feeding in the first place?

What ages was they diagnosed

😆

Breast feeding has nothing to do with developing CP. What utter nonsense.