Family discouraging me from breastfeeding due to second son with autism

[Hopeful VBA2C]

I am expecting my third in May, I plan on breastfeeding exclusively. I don't like to pump which means baby goes where I do. I did the same with my other two children. The first self weened at around 10 months the second 16months. My second was just diagnosed with (PDD) autism. So since than my family have blamed me for it saying I made him to clingy by B/F. I say its not true and that I plan on doing the same for this child, they want me not to and see if this one is fine or not. Is there any research supporting the fact that autism is not linked to b/f or should I listen to my family and not bother. I don't think I am the cause of his autism but they have me wondering.. Please help

[luvmi4]

Is this a joke?

You cannot make a child autistic by breastfeeding - or else I guess most of the world would be autistic. Your family is extremely misinformed and giving you horrendous advice.

Of course you should nurse your third child. Of course breastfeeding played NO part in your second child's autism. Your family's advice just made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

[mamaofthree]

(((hugs)))
the answer to that question is NO! You did not in any way cause your son's autism because you nursed him until he was 16 months.
do not blame yourself and do not let them blame you. if nothing else your milk helped him.

much love to you

h

[prescottchels]

I'm horrified that someone could think that breast feeding would cause autism, but then to tell you that!!?? Oy.
The only 2 ways I've heard a child gets autism is that it just happens or is caused by the heavy metals in vaccines... NEVER EVER breast milk.

Some resources for you...
From what I've heard this organization is one of the top in regard to Autism
http://www.autismspeaks.org/?gclid=C...FQkiagodD3YlCg

and I've also heard many success stories about children being cured of autism through chelation treatment http://www.healing-arts.org/children/holmes.htm when it is an issue of heavy metal (mercury) toxicity which you can have a doctor test for.

Hugs to you and your munchkins

[N8'sMom]

Bless your heart. I work with children who have autism. It is NOT in any way caused by BFing. If anything....your BreastMilk helps!!!
They were wrong to tell you this.

[RoadWorkAhead]

I was thinking they meant b/c dealing with a non-NT kiddo can be so time consuming, which seems true though BFing is still doable (I've got one spectrum kid and 1 medically fragile one and am BFing #3). But BFing being the cause? Uh, no. I've got 3 kids...DS was nursed but I worked FT and he was with my mom...We're attached, but he wasn't nearly as mom dependent...He's spectrum. DD was my sidekick non-stop for 15 months due to exclusive (no solids) breastfeeding for 12 months, a g-tube from there on and just her personality...She's completely NT (neurotypical). Theres a little anecdotal evidence for ya

[shelbean91]

I think it's not an issue. If anything, i think nursing my ds1 helped with a lot of the autism issues. I think he likes to cuddle, not all the time, but on his terms, was partly b/c he was nursed for so long. Do what you think is right and tell the others to leave you alone.

[tanyalynn]

Wow, that's bad advice in so many ways from your family. Even if the PDD diagnosis is related to toxic load, and that toxic load is related to you, the majority of the toxic load we transfer to our kids is in-utero. I transferred a very high toxic load to both my kids, they've both got behavioral symptoms due to it, though very different from each other and some quite subtle, but nursing was far more helpful than harmful, even from a mom like me who had a higher level of toxins in her milk than is typical. Nursing does so much to support babies (and toddlers, etc of course) bodies working properly, in terms of oral health/development, gut health, immune function, the list goes on. The other option is some sort of artificial breastmilk, and the risks with ABM are far too many to list, but are quite well-documented.