AUSTRALIA — A recently published study found that children exposed to alcohol through breast milk may have reduced cognitive abilities.<br /><br />In the study, breastfeeding moms were asked about their alcohol consumption and their smoking habits with a questionnaire, reports CBS News.<br /><br />The study was then tested the children of these moms on their vocabulary, nonverbal reasoning, and cognitive processing every two years until the age of 11.<br /><br />Children of mothers who drank were shown to have lower test scores than those who didn't from age 6 to 7.<br /><br />However, the effects don't seem to be long-lasting as the same results weren't seen when the children turned 10 to 11.<br /><br />Dr. Elissa Rubin, medical director of Happy and Healthy Pediatrics, told CBS News that a mother should not breastfeed if she "feels any of the effects of alcohol in her system.."<br /><br />However, Dr. Rubin said an occasional glass of wine is fine as long as women drink water and eat a full meal afterwards.<br /><br />Smoking didn't appear to have an effect on children's cognitive ability, however researchers warn it still isn't a good idea to smoke.
