Found these 2 articles on 2 different benefits of breastfeeding - one involves a specific gene increasing the baby’s intelligence and the other involves decreasing of risk of heart disease.
The article on BBC News talks about a single gene influencing whether breastfeeding improves a child’s intelligence. Apparently, babies with the gene, FADS2, score 7 points higher if they are breastfed. However, those who are without this particular gene doesn’t seem to have any effect on the IQ even if they are breastfed. Apparently, a 7-point difference can put the child into the top third of the class.
And in the other article in The Guardian, researchers in the US have found that people who have been breastfed had lower body mass index as well as higher than average of the ‘good’ cholesterol in adulthood. Both these factors protect them against cardiovascular disease.
I still think breastfeeding is good for the child as long as the mother is able to as it does help in the reduction in the risk of heart disease. However, the jury is definitely still out on whether breastfeeding does help increase the intelligence of children. Or should I say, it’s really dependent on that one gene. 
On the other hand of the health scale, a Telegraph article reports another research which states that women who drink while they were pregnant may cause their children to have bad behavior. Even though there have been conflicting reports on whether drinking is recommended or not, I think pregnant mums should abstain, where possible, from drinking any alcohol. It’s for your benefit as well as the benefit of the unborn child. But then again, that’s just my personal opinion. The decision still rests on you … the pregnant mum.
So, have your say on these rather interesting articles in the comments.
