Increased awareness of the nutritional and medical benefits of breastfeeding, including reduced incidence of infection and allergic reaction, 1 — 9 has led to its endorsement by medical and professional groups10 — 12 and to substantial
increases in the number of women choosing to breastfeed.13, 14 A study of 300 British children showed that children who consumed breast milk in the early weeks of life also had
significantly higher IQ scores at 7.5 to 8 years on an abbreviated version of the Wechsler
Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) than those who were not breastfed.15 The sample was made up of preterm infants fed breast milk or formula by tube.