Were you breastfed? (Poll)

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My mind keeps wondering which of my many traits might be related to Asperger's/Autism, and what might be a cause of it.

I know I wasn't breastfed, and that may have led to my severe childhood allergies. Could it have something to do with Autism too? I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would force-feed their own innocent, helpless infant some artificial chemical "formula" pushed by some greedy corporation rather than nurture that baby with mother's milk, which is what we're SUPPOSED to do. (My parents are both dead, so if any of you know why people give their babies formula, please inform me). Apparently I didn't like the formula, because in my baby picture book, my mother noted that for several days after I was born I kept throwing the crap up. And they STILL didn't get a clue????

I know lots of people on the spectrum who were breast-fed, so that theory is not likely.

As to why mothers might not breast feed - there are lots of reasons: some women don't produce enough milk and have to supplement with bottles. Many babies reject the breast when there is supplementation with formula, because bottles are easier to drink from. Many mothers are devastated when that happens. Other mothers can't breast feed because of inverted nipples, which makes breast-feeding difficult, painful, or impossible. Others have infections. Others have other difficulties that interfere with their ability to breast feed. On top of that, some women can't breast-feed because of logistical issues, like work. If one is working, it is impossible to breast feed an infant routinely, and the only way to provide breast milk would be by pumping milk. Not all women are able to pump milk, and not all work places provide either the time or the privacy for women to do so, even if they are physically able to produce milk through pumping.

I was breast fed (AS diagnosed)
My older brother wasn't (not AS, but likely has some type of difference... possibly ADHD or bipolar, but he's too big of a wuss to consider he isn't perfect and refuses to consider or seek help for his issues)

I was breastfed, and so was my son. Even though I had inverted nipples, it didn't cause a problem... they simply "popped out" on demand.

I know some women can't breast feed, but I think far more could than do. It's so much easier than bottle feeding. When I've looked after other babies I've always found bottle feeding more worrisome than nursing ever was.

Breast feeding isn't linked to intelligence, by the way. This link has been debunked a long time ago - breast fed children are smarter because their mothers are - not because breast milk contains some elements which contribute to intelligence significantly. Just Google 'Breastfeeding-intelligence link debunked'.

Also, no, I wasn't breastfed.

Breast-feeding is indeed a fine thing, but I think trying to bestow it with the ability to cause/prevent AS is way too simplistic.



All else being equal, you wouldn't. But as has been pointed out, there are reasons for it. Also, it was simply the "modern" trend back in the 50's to bottle-feed. Thankfully, the pendulum of opinion on breast-feeding has swung back more to where it should be.

I wasn't breast-fed either, but I breast-fed my twins.




Babies throw up for lots of reasons. I wouldn't be so harsh on your mother.

My mother couldn't breast feed because she had breast reduction surgery for a medical reason. Both my brothers turned out fine but one is lactose intolerant and the other has like four aspie traits but he has depression and ADD and is color blind.

I however kept getting sick, lot of ear infections and fevers and it messed with my development. I stopped developing normally around nine months. I was too sick to even focus and do what all babies are supposed to do as their minds are developing. So it probably changed the wiring of my brain and made me this way. Or maybe I would have still been the same way because traits do run in my family or maybe I would have just been an NT with aspie traits.


And FYI, not all moms can breast feed because they get harassment out in public for breastfeeding and it just makes it hard for the mother to do it so it's easier to just use formula. But now I recently heard there is a federal law now to protect BF moms. I also found out it takes a couple of days to do it right and if your nipples are chapped or if it's hurting, you aren't doing it right. I was also told lot of moms just give up that easily and decide they are unable to do it. But some do have a medical reason to not breast feed, what if they have to be on medication, you can't take medicine and be breast feeding because then it gets into the milk, sometimes the baby has latching problems and can never do it, sometimes babies are premature the mother never gets to breast feed because her milk supply has dried up by the time the baby is out of the NICU. So she is stuck with formula. I don't ever judge formula mothers because they could have a medical reason for not breast feeding and I don't see any issues with using formula. It's expensive but if mothers want to use their money on it, spend over $200 a month, their choice. I want to breast feed only because it saves money and it makes you lose weight faster.

I was breast fed but only for a week or so then had formula

I breast fed my son who also has AS for ages. I don't think it's linked to aspergers.

Here is some research that indicates that breastfeeding may be especially beneficial to the condition of Autism.

[u]http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVFebMar02p10.html[/url]

Also, lots of information is available about the relationship between low oxytocin levels and Autism. This may be part of the reason why some children with Autism reject breastfeeding.

Last edited by aghogday on 02 Dec 2010, 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I wasn't breastfed because even though my Mum tried, I rejected it. Plus, the doctors asked her to give me formula milk because I was sick and a bit light.

This one actually makes it really easy to tell I was originally neurologically unusual -- I was born without any breastfeeding instinct. But once they taught me, I was in fact breastfed.

I wasn't breastfed. My nephew was, however, yet he still lines up his toys and has significant speech issues, including delay.

It was attempted, but for some reason wasn't working out too well. There was an issue of "failure to thrive" at one point, but then juice in a bottle was tried which worked out ok.

I was adopted so definatly not. From what I hear about my biological mother, she wouldn't have been able to breast feed me.

My mother breastfed all her children.

I was not breast fed, in fact I was on an infant formula that was recalled years later by the FDA for high levels of lead and copper and lack of chloride which interestingly enough almost all of the children on the formula have PDD-NOS and brain injury. So in some way your theory is correct.
My mom could not breast feed, her breasts were too big and it was very painful for her to breast feed. I dont blame her though because she had no idea what she was giving me was making me very ill. To make matters worse after the product was recalled, they sold the defected formula to Germany. Look it up, it is called Neo-Mull-Soy. It is a very hush hush thing, most people know nothing about it. It was sold in the US to military families through the comersary. It is also a soy based formula. I was put on it cause I have lactose intolerance.
I went to school with one other kid that was on the formula. He had PDD-NOS also, but the social presures drove him to drugs which then led to him getting on top of a water tower with an auto rifle and having a standoff with the police...he later killed himself in jail.
I wonder how his life would have been different if he was not put on the formula.