Underweight Infants at Risk as Teens
“Children born underweight but not disabled are still more likely to have physical and mental problems as teen-agers, researchers said Monday.
Lower scores on tests of intelligence, memory, learning and motor skills were found to be more likely among 16 year olds who weighed less than 4.4 pounds at birth but were otherwise free of disabilities, the study said.
Low birth weight is a known risk factor for mental retardation and cerebral palsy, but subtler brain injuries inflicted by an undersized head may afflict others born underweight, especially boys, it said.”
I spent eight years teaching childbirth before I became on online birth activist. I remember reading a quote by Doris Haire, the famous advocate for proper pregnancy nutrition. She claimed that no matter what the size of the mother, if a child was under seven pounds at birth, the mother was malnourished during her pregnancy.
During my first two pregnancies, I did not eat the Brewer Pregnancy Diet. I was a strict vegetarian and although my daughters were both over eight pounds, I did not focus on protein in the least.
With my boys pregnancies, I ate the Brewer Diet faithfully. Jeff was 8 pounds 14 ounces at birth. Andrew was 11 pounds and 12 ounces at birth (and five weeks late), and Benjamin was 9 pounds 8 ounces at birth.

Ben playing soccer.
All I can do is share my stories of pregnancy and birth and hope that you mothers who are reading decide to take nutrition seriously. Go check out Tom Brewer’s web site. Read it, and embrace the idea that nutrition is the KEY! In the end it is the ultimate gift that you can give to your child. A healthy whole brain is built with nutritious food, NOT drugs.
Jenny Hatch