Re: Breastfeeding and OCD

September 30, 2005

My OCD daughter was breastfed until she was over a year. Never had formula.

in NV

September 30, 2005

Both of my children were solely breastfed for at least the first few months.

Both continued to be at least partially breastfed until they were about a year

old. And both have neurological and/or psychiatric issues (13yo son with NLD,

AHDH, Tourette's; 10yo daughter with OCD and an as-yet-unnamed LD with slow

processing speed). I don't think we can blame it on lack of breastfeeding, at

least not in our case.

P.

lv2_read <jnas5@...> wrote:

I was just reading a comment on iHerb.com made by a Dr. Murray

(Holistic Doctor). He was reviewing some research on DHA and its

effects on the brains of developing babies. Until recently, baby

formula manufacturers were not able to add this DHA component to their

formulas, so the only way developing babies would be able to get it

would be through breastmilk. He makes the assumption that the lack of

DHA may attribute to issues of ADD/ADHD, OCD, etc. My own OCD son was

not breastfed. Just curious how many of your OCDers were or were not

breastfed. Adrien in NV

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September 30, 2005

My kids were all exclusively breastfed, including nightime feedings,

for up to one year, and continued up to two+ years (along with food of

course). My soon to be 3 yr old still nurses about once a day (for

maybe just 5 minutes) and once before bedtime.

I wish it did stop OCD somehow, but my kids (6) all manifest some form

of neurological issues from severe to just oddities (such as mild

echolalia) in those less affected. Even my 2 yr old started biting her

nails very early on (but also was able to whistle at age 15 or so

months- maybe the oral exercise of breastfeeding makes her mouth more

agile!) . I do hope that nursing reduced or postponed severity of

allergies in some of my kids, with familial tendency towards that.

What I have learned, through being with some (few) mothers who tend

towards breastfeeding ideology (they think it cures and prevents all

ills and critically frown upon bottle feeding as irresponsible-and some

are also in the organic foods camp) is that we cannot micro-control

what ills may affect our children and so should mother them as best we

can (have to take our own needs into account too, for the good of the

children). So make informed decisions, but with moderate or flexible

approaches, and do not listen to or worry about critics, we just don't

need that added burden when we have kids with neuro-differences.

nancy grace

> I was just reading a comment on iHerb.com made by a Dr. Murray

> (Holistic Doctor). He was reviewing some research on DHA and its

> effects on the brains of developing babies. Until recently, baby

> formula manufacturers were not able to add this DHA component to

their

> formulas, so the only way developing babies would be able to get it

> would be through breastmilk. He makes the assumption that the lack of

> DHA may attribute to issues of ADD/ADHD, OCD, etc. My own OCD son

was

> not breastfed. Just curious how many of your OCDers were or were not

> breastfed. Adrien in NV

September 30, 2005

Both of my OCD kids were breastfed. In fact, my son was breastfed until he was 1

year old because he had such severe food allergies.

Ramona