Breastfed babies may do better in school

BOSTON - Breast milk has many benefits for developing babies and a new study finds that premature babies who are breastfed tend to do better in school, according to research out of Harvard.

Children who were born prematurely are more likely to have academic difficulties and attention disorders. But researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital looked at 586 babies born at less than 33 weeks gestation and found that a higher intake of mother's milk was associated with higher performance IQ and higher reading and math scores by age 7. Children who consumed more breastmilk also experienced fewer ADHD symptoms.

The study did not prove that breastfeeding directly led to improved academic performance, but there appeared to be an association.  

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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