Melissa, the Lucas study on premature babies in Cambridge UK specifically
excluded other variables by tube feeding the milk.  I recall that the mothers
had no particular feelings about whether the milk was breast or not - am I right
folks?  was it a RCT?  -  so all other variables would be excluded or randomly
spread across the samples.  There seemed no doubt that the actual milk made the
difference.

BUT, how significant is an IQ test?  I ask because I know some teachers,
psychologists, who have worked with children from a variety of backgrounds.  A
number of them hold IQ tests in low regard.  Now this could be because of how
results are used, or it could be because they measure such a narrow part of what
we are as humans.  I say this because I hear very strong things said about IQ
tests and babies on Lactnet, and perhaps we lose sight of the whole picture?
having said that there is no doubt in my mind that breastfeeding will help a
child achieve it's full potential, but it's probably impossible to prove except
in certain measurable outcomes.

Hope this makes sense - I've been unwell for a few days, and concentration is
even worse than usual.

mary Broadfoot, scotland