"Breastfeeding is an unsentimental metaphor for how love works, in a way. You don't decide how much and how deeply to love--you respond to the beloved, and give with joy exactly as much as they want."
~Marni Jackson~
~Undersize Infants Score Higher on IQ Tests If Breast Fed Exclusively~
The study is consistent with earlier reports that full-term infants who were of normal size for their age scored 3 points higher on IQ tests at five years of age when breastfed exclusively for the first six months than did infants who either stopped breastfeeding before six months or had supplements such as formula or solids introduced into their diets.
The finding also discredits the widely held belief that supplementary feedings of formula and cereal, in addition to breast milk, will help these smaller infants reach normal size faster than they would on breast milk alone. Ten percent of all births in the United States are small for gestational age (SGA) or less than six pounds when born full term.
"This study provides strong evidence that exclusive breast feeding for the first six months benefits the cognitive development of both small and normal-size infants," said Duane Alexander, M.D., Director of the NICHD. "Also noteworthy is the observation that exclusive breast feeding does not compromise growth."
According to the study's principal investigator, Malla Rao, the researchers evaluated 220 full term SGA children and 299 full-term, appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children. The scientists conducted the study in Norway and Sweden, because mothers in those countries exclusively breast feed their infants for longer durations than women in the United States. The most recent United States statistics from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that while only 21 percent of infants are still being exclusively breastfed for 4 months, this percentage drops to 16 percent by six months of age.
The children were evaluated by study physicians at birth, at six weeks of age, and at three, six, nine, and 13 months of age. At each visit, the children's mothers were asked whether they had fed their children formula, milk, cereal, or other solids, and the age at which such foods were given. The researchers tested the children at 13 months by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, which measure children's motor skills and mental abilities. When the children were five years old, the researchers tested their intelligence with a Norwegian version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence. This test measures children's intellectual capacity, rating how well they perform on various verbal and nonverbal tasks.
By the time the infants were 24 weeks old, the researchers could find no evidence that supplements had increased the growth of either SGA or AGA infants. However, the researchers did find that, at five years of age, SGA children who were breastfed exclusively for the first 24 weeks of life scored approximately 11 points higher on the tests than did SGA children breastfed for 12 weeks.
"Exclusive breast feeding does not appear to hinder the growth of SGA infants," Mr. Rao said. "Our findings suggest that, whenever possible, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 24 weeks of life is the method of choice to enhance children's cognitive development."
~Featured site of the month~
Three years ago, Jenni began making her infant son Jack some breast feeding
advocacy T-shirts using iron-ons. Since then, her home based business has
blossomed to the point of requiring a relocation to a new home and the
development of a wonderful website called Jack's Magic Beanstalk.
Full-term infants who are born small score an average of 11 points higher on IQ tests if they are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life compared to those who are given formula or solids early on, according to findings published in the March Acta Paediatrica. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. 
~Tuesday is Chat day~
All members are welcome to join in on weekly chats. Chat times are
Daytime: 2-4pm EST
Night: 8-10pm EST
If you go to chat and you are all alone, then post a reminder on the board, and someone will join you :)
~Happy Chatting~
Jack's Magic Beanstalk
According to Jenni, it was the public's input into her son's apparel that
gave her the idea making more and trying to sell them.
"I put a few on E-bay to see if they would sell," explained Jenni. "Then
I took the plunge and bought silk-screening equipment with my tax return and
some money borrowed from my in-laws."
Jenni says that at the onset of this venture, she and her family lived in
a small apartment where she silk-screened shirts in the middle of the night
in the dinning room.
"It makes a electric type of smell and the nosy old lady next door would
freak," laughed Jenni. "I laugh when I think of what it used to be like."
Now, Jenni and her family have moved into a house and have devoted their
whole basement to making the beautiful advocacy T-shirts available on her
website.
As part of the promotion of this site, Jenni has offered a coupon code
that gives readers 10% off any order over $25. If you want to order from
Jack's Magic Beanstalk, please use coupon code 11234.
MofCandA
1. What is your earliest memory of breastfeeding?
Oh, my earliest memory of breastfeeding took place at a difficult time in my life. I was a new mother at the young age of 15. But I was happy to have a baby and completely in love with my new little girl. She was five weeks early and they told me that she was too young to be strong enough to suck it out of me. I tried for a while but the nurses told me she wasn't getting anything and they gave her some sugar water in a bottle. It was frustrating and I cried a lot about the whole situation. They gave me a hand pump and sent us on our way. I ended up pumping my milk out for her for only 4 weeks and it depresses me all the time that I am so anti-formula and yet I didn't have the determination to work through all of the problems with breastfeeding my first child. But they say there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that we learn from our mistakes, well I guess it's true because I have made many happy new memories breastfeeding my son.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cypress, Tx just outside of Houston.
3. How do you family and friends react to your nursing?
Their reactions vary considerably person to person, but most of my family has no experience breastfeeding, so they are not very supportive of it. Some of the things that ignorant people say would surprise you. My mom saw some milk on my son's cheek the first time she watched me nurse and she said, "Wow! There's really milk in there, huh?!". Then later when we were talking about weaning age she said, "You're not going to keep nursing him after he gets his first tooth are you?" she says that once they star getting teeth they have to start eating "real" food and they are too old to be sucking on a titty . I have also had some negative experiences nursing in front of my aunt and nursing in front of my uncle. My grandma says that she couldn't nurse her kids because one of her nipples is inverted.
On the other hand, my friends Kym and Cassie are very supportive of my decision to breastfeed and so is my sister Amber. And most importantly my husband is supportive, I think that is one of the reasons why I succeeded this time.
I think that having support so important especially early on, not because women are weak and easily swayed by other peoples opinions, but because nursing is usually hard in the beginning, you run into problems and get discouraged. And that is the time when you most need your family and friends for encouragement. It is important to have someone on your side.
4. What is your dream job?
I would love to be a Midwife someday! I think that natural childbirth is a beautiful experience that everyone should have the pleasure to accomplish. And I think that since I've done it twice myself, I might be a great help to new expecting mothers.
5. Do you have problems nursing in public or in front of people?
I did at first, and I think that everyone is a little embarrassed to do it in the beginning. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I don't give it a second thought now. My son has always hated a blanket in his face, and he would fuss and tear it off. So I quickly learned that trying to be discreet was not as important as keeping my son happy and content while he eats. And now, I'm glad that I don't cover up. I feel that there is a strong message that we should all convey to the public. "Breastfeeding is normal!"
6. What is your favorite thing about being a mom?
Well that is a tough question. I love being a mother, and it has so many wonderful benefits. My favorite thing is probably, the fact that I am never alone. I always have someone someone loving and cuddlely to share my time with.
-add 2 tablespoons each of the following:
-stir & reduce heat to low.
check for consistency/thickness. If you like your chili a little thicker,
add a slurry of 2 tbsp. corn starch w/ 1/4 cup water.
-serve w/ shredded cheese and cornbread.
~Breastfeeding humor~
Thank you Pixie...
Chili...Serves 3 all week or a family of 5 with 1 day's leftovers to fight over!
1 lb steak of your choice, cut into bite sized chunks
1 lb course ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped semi-course
-combine & cook over med-high heat in stock pot until meats are just pink.
-add 1 12 oz bottle of beer (yes, I said BEER) other wise use boring old
water.
-toss in 2 cans diced tomatoes - any variety (I use the ones with roasted
garlic).
chili powder
pepper
oregano
plus 1/2 tsp. of salt
-add a 32 oz jug of spicy V-8 juice plus 1/4 cup of cayenne pepper sauce (NOT
Tabasco! YUCK! I use Red Hot) and 1/4 cup of worstershire sauce.
-stir & simmer for about an hour.
-add 2 cans kernel corn w/juice, 1-2 cans kidney or black beans drained -
depending on what kind & how many beans you prefer.
-cook another 30 minutes.
A woman and a baby come into the doctor's office.
She was told to go into a room and wait for the doctor.
After arriving there, the doctor examined and asked the woman, "Is he breast fed or on the bottle?"
"Breast fed" she replied.
"Well, strip down to your waist," the doctor ordered.
She did.
He pressed, kneaded and pinched both breasts for a while in a detailed examination.
Motioning to her to get dressed said, "No wonder this baby is hungry.
You don't have any milk."
"Naturally," she said, "I'm his aunt. But I'm glad I came."
Visit Dragonflytiedye to get beautiful baby clothes, like the one shown on Baby Journee.
A long with baby clothes, are clothes for
-adults
-youths
-toddlers
-matching family tie dyes
-playsilks
-diapers
-floppy hats
-bandanas
-Special requests are also welcome
We get 20% off except for dragons dyes which are 10% off.
Thank you Barb!
We are looking for breastfeeding stories, birth stories, and photos for our nursing photo album. Please email submissions to Ms. Frizzle or Quinn