Were you breast fed as a baby?

[ringmastery]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-981734,00.html

“We have shown that minor manipulation of maternal diet can increase life expectancy in mice by more than 50 per cent, a discovery that calls for attention to this in humans,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nature.

“There is, after all, a significant difference between living to be 50 and reaching 75.”

It is already well established that low birth weight and premature birth are linked to a range of health problems throughout life.

[R3dD0g]

1. No.

But, my brother was and he has been a loser his entire life. Mooching off our mother unto this day.

[eyesroll]

2. No.

I turned out short and klutzy, but heathy.

[La_Serpiente]

3. Yes, myself and my twin

my mom was doing some double pumping!

[NicoleM]

4. Let's torture the pregnant women and moms!

I wish they would just keep their yaps shut about this stuff until they have conclusive evidence and an actual plan we're supposed to follow. Because all this does is encourage women to agonize about what they did eat that they shouldn't have or what they didn't eat that they should have.

I'm just about 8 months pregnant. I've been awake for almost two hours and I have yet to finish a whole piece of toast. There is no room in there for a baby and food. I can't finish a whole apple these days. And then there were all those months when just about everything I ate came right back up, except the crackers (sodium!) and popsicles (red dye #5!).

Maybe science should work on making it so that pregnant women can actually eat a healthy diet without yacking it up. THEN they can tell me what I should be eating.

Crabby? Me?

[girl gone mad]

7. What she said! n/t

[populistmom]

8. If it makes you feels better

I was just like you my first pregnancy. In fact, I was puking at my one week OVERDUE ultrasound. My daughter was big (8lbs 9oz) and is a very smart. Actually, I was more pukey than most people and had all big, healthy, smart babies. You probably already know this, but frequently even though you feel miserable, your baby has an even better than average chance of being extremely healthy when the moms feels so sick.

[regularguy]

5. "My mom said we were 'just good friends' " -R. Dangerfield

I was adopted, so no.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. No

I was born in that period when the chemical companies had convinced the medical world that their "formula" was actaully way, way, way healthier than "dirty, nasty rotten mother's milk".

Idiots.

[BlueJazz]

9. I was breast fed as a baby and I've done everything...

...in my power to keep the good thing going! :)

[populistmom]

10. Yes and 101 Reasons to breastfeed

I think not many of us born in the 60's and 70's in the US were breastfed, but my mom was a NICU nurse and saw the benefits hands-on. I breastfed my children as well. It is NOT always easy at first, but so very worth any initial struggles.

101 Reasons to Breastfeed: http://www.promom.org/101/ Please read as this is very informative!!!

[TXlib]

11. Shouldn't I be lying on a leather couch, if you're asking that question?

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. No, it wasn't proper in 1970. Those are my Mom's words...

She was horrified when I opted to breastfeed. :eyes:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

27. Not proper!? What the hell did she think those boobs were for?

Looks?! Can you explain that pleasE?
Duckie

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. One would have to ask her I suppose. Of course she would

answer that they are for covering up. :hi:

[geniph]

13. No

and neither were any of my 12 siblings, half-siblings, and step-siblings. It had become fairly uncommon by then (we were all born between 1940 and 1959 - I'm the youngest), plus my mother took about two weeks off work for each of us. She didn't have time.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

14. Don't know...

It has never come up in polite conversation with my mother. I have feeling I was for a while at least. I think my fascination with women's breasts speaks to this. Or maybe I'm just straight guy who likes boobs.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. I don't know, Does "as an adult" count? (nt)

[tigereye]

17. I think all, well, most, guys have that fascination

Yes, I was. My mom said it was difficult and she didn't do it for very long. I did with my son for about 8 months suppl with formula and it seemed to work well - he was rarely sick. The benefits are well-documented, but I think it gets pushed too much at times, i.e., people who make you feel guilty if you can't, don't or don't do it for a year plus. etc. Some of my friends had a really hard time and were upset when they couldn't. I think people need to do what works for them. It was neat to carry my son in a sling when he was little and not have to worry about bottles all the time.

[Nikia]

16. Yes

My mother breast fed all of her children. She said that it helped her recover from pregnancy faster and made us smarter.

[lolly]

18. No.

And I ended up w/hay fever, allergies, and athsma.

Had to be switched to soy milk because I had some sort of nasty reaction to cow's milk formula (Mom found a diaper full of blood one morning--yech!).

So, all 4 of mine were breastfed for over 2 years each! Don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but none of mine have had problems w/athsma, although a couple have had some hay fever.

[MountainLaurel]

19. Good question, but I'd guess not

I had fluid in my lungs when I was born and spent 2 weeks in an incubator (despite being a large, past-term baby). This was in an Army hospital in the early 70s, when formula was king, so I'd guess that getting breastmilk to me was not a big priority.

[matcom]

20. I AM Breast Feeding NOW!

:spank: Matcom :spank:

[tigereye]

21. No you're not

are you? Actually not my business. I was going to cheer you on when I thought you were serious. When I see women breastfeeding out in public, I always would nod in support, since I think the culture is not as supportive as it should be.

You're just makin fun, aren't ya....

BTW the little spanking guys are cute...

[Fleshdancer]

22. Yes

My Grandmother was grossed out about it, but my Mom decided early on in the pregnancy that she would breast feed me. It lasted for 6 months...and then I started teething.

I tried to breast feed my daughter. After 2 weeks of pure hell, I found out I wasn't creating enough milk. :( My breasts are broken. lol

[put out]

23. Please, I am confused.

Are you talking about maternal diet when pregnant? Some posters are. Or are you talking about maternal diet when nursing a baby? Some posters are. Low birth weight and premature birth and the mother's diet linked, yes. Oh dear (channeling Aunt Clara) I do not understand the point being made.

Speak slowly, as if to a child (used to know it in several languages). Sometimes it was translated as "Speak as if to a slow child". True either way.

[tigereye]

24. subjects do tend to meander don't they

totally ignored the diet part. Remember that I craved eggs and hash browns. Mostly can't remember and my diet after my child's birth was eat when he isn't wailing or breastfeeding!!!

[put out]

25. Yeah, ha, the breast would shut up the wailing.

We spent hours, days, weeks stuck together like Velcro. All in all, it was really good. What some have discussed, though, about relatives being freaked out, had a lot of that too. Breast feeding is not scientific in that you can't measure precisely what's going on and some folks just couldn't accept that part of it.

I think you just have to find your own way and do what is best for your family. No need for guilt. Guilt smells bad and does no good when you've done nothing wrong.

[ohiosmith]

26. Still am.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

28. I was...And was healthier for it...

And I like to think that I will my kids. And if I can't, I will at least pump. I've heard that it's painful, and that kids knaw them off. I figure I can pump and bottle feed and still cuddle and coo at my baby when the time comes. I'll try to do it, but I have sensitive nipples now, I don't know if I'll be able to handle it.
Duckie

[lolly]

32. Kids gnaw them off?

Nope, thank goodness! A little sore at first--worse for some than others, but never got gnawed off--they're still there!

[put out]

34. Give it good try. At first is difficult,

But you can find some people, even nurses who specialize in it professionally. Don't go with extremists, those who want to tell you you are wrong in the way you do it, or wrong in the way you do not do it. It is an intense and wonderful experience, though.

[fortyfeetunder]

41. No gnawing, even with a full set of choppers!

I wasn't breastfed...that was in the days when "formula" was best. After tasting my own milk once, I knew what I had missed...good stuff..what a shame.

But I was determined my child was not drinking formula. It was mostly ecomomics ($1200-1600/yr in formula vs about $300 in pumping and bottle gear). I took all the classes and found a wonderful lactation consultant. As a result, this tyke nursed until he was two months shy of his 4th birthday, he went cold turkey. He had a full set of baby choppers by the time he quit. But he rarely bit me.

Now 46 months nursing (in the United States) may sound a bit extreme, but it has paid off royally with his enhanced immune system. When he gets sick it's only for a day or two if even that long, and then he's back in bizness. His K class has had 4 bouts of strep throat so far this year but he hasn't caught it.

[Piltdown13]

29. Yes..for awhile, anyway

I think it only lasted about 6 months. Then my pediatrician had me put on some kind of formula because I wasn't gaining enough weight with breast milk only.

[populistmom]

30. Big Fat Breastfed Baby Pictures (these are big, watch out dial-up users)!

In case anyone tells you breastmilk isn't enough. In both pics, these boys barely had any solid food at all. Once again, go boobies!!!!

p.s. They are both average, normal sized kids now.

My daughter at 4 and my oldest son at six months and 26 pounds!!!!



My youngest son at 8 months and 27 pounds!!!

[bleedingheart]

31. wow what beautiful babies!

my little gal was a preemie who was so skinny when she came home but mama's milk fattened that baby right up!
she went from looking skinny to a regular michelin tire baby!

[Wonco_the_Sane]

35. Don't remember

I was very young at the time. I have however, outlived all (both) of the mice I've had as pets by a lot.

[Blue-Jay]

36. Actually, I don't remember.

And I'm too shy to ask.

[hedgetrimmer]

37. No, but i was as an adult... and i liked it! MMMMMMMMMMMM!

"hey kid, move over and let me get some of that"

[efhmc]

38. Yes, I am also in the home of a one week old who is

being breastfed as we write. It is a slow and time consuming process and not for the weak at heart or for those needing more than 2-3 hours of sleep at a stretch (at least in the beginning) but it is worth the pain and trouble if you can do it. Whatever is done with love and caring will work, if you can't or don't breastfeed.

[Edge]

39. No, and thank God.

[Djinn]

40. to hear my mum tell it

it's amazing the four of us are not STILL being breastfed. She likes to say it's coz she knew it was best for the baby - my guess with the first two it was more about abject poverty (mum and dad both still uni students) and with me and my brother it was more about total lack of organisation - you have to go to the shop for formula, heat it up, check the temp, boobs are a 24/7 convenience store

[scarlet_owl]

42. Yes, my sister and I were both breastfed.

My half sister was not (different mothers). I plan on breastfeeding my children.

[LastKnight]

43. me and my syblings were, and our health varies greatly...

i have had literally perfect health besides from the occasional bout with the flu/cold whatnot that everyone gets, no major illnesses, no needs for surgery or anything. my sister, however, has all manner of alergies and sicknesses and was hooked up to a respirator the first 4 years of her life... and has continuing health problems as she ages... my brother, the youngest of us three... is currently 5 and its kinda hard to tell this soon, but he appears to be right down the center between me and my sister... he has his occasional serious doctor visit. but nothing too frequent.

so as far as breastfeeding affecting health? who knows... we all weighed about the same when we were born too... so i donno what the factor is that has given my family all extreames in our health.

-LK