RE: [ozmidwifery] Article on breastfeeding preventing bed wetting

[Megan & Larry]

My own sample on this, 3 boys, aged 8, 6 &4, all breastfed 'til 18mths, 18mths and 2yr 4mths, respectively, all still are night time wetters.   so are we unusual or does it really not make a difference when other factors are at play?   Just wondering Megan From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Helen and Graham Sent: Sunday, 16 July 2006 1:21 PM To: ozmidwifery Subject: [ozmidwifery] Article on breastfeeding preventing bed wetting   Breast-feeding may help prevent bed-wetting Benefits of brain development could play a role, researchers report Reuters Updated: 10:16 a.m. ET July 5, 2006 CHICAGO - Children breast-fed as infants are less likely to wet the bed later on, researchers reported Wednesday, probably because they have a developmental edge. There is strong evidence that in many cases bed-wetting can “result from delayed neurodevelopment,” said the report from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “There is biological plausibility in inferring that breast-feeding protects against bed-wetting and our results show a strong statistical association” although not enough to prove a direct cause-effect, the study said. Breast-feeding is beneficial because of the role that certain fatty acids passed onto the infant play in brain development, said the study published in the July issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study was based on 55 children who were bed-wetters at ages 5 to 13 and 117 in the same age range who were not. Of the bed-wetters, 45 percent had been breast-fed, compared to 81 percent of those who were continent at night. The study also found that babies who received breast milk supplemented with formula had a similar rate of bed-wetting as those who received formula alone. Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13715951/ © 2006 MSNBC.com I can't help but wonder if it is also to do with the emotional security that accompanies breastfeeding +/- co-sleeping....Helen