for the red terrorism alert on election Day 2008? The one that will force us to postpone the elections until we win the war on terror? Not too long ago I would have laughed at the idea. Now I'm not so sure it's funny.

Plenty of people did have huge families. 17 is rare from a single marriage. Personally, I know 2 families with 17 and 15 kids, respectively. ) The kids are of The Greatest Generation-Baby Boom era.) But many, any familes had more than 6 or 7 as the "norm."

English royalty was famous for having sper-sized broods. Eleanor of Aquitaine had 11 (3 wih Louis VII of France and 8 with Henry II of England). Edward III's wife Phippipa of Hainault had 11, as did Edward IV's wife Elizabeth Woodville. Katherine of Aragon had somewhere around a dozen, but only Mary survived infancy. Queen Anne endured over a dzen pregnancies, though no babies survived. And Queen Victoria had 9 kids.

Yes royalty had better food, better health care, and higher expectations of "producing," but middle-class women were champion breeders too.

Jane Austen was 1 of 8 kids. Her brother Edward had 11 kids. Brother Frank alsio had 11 kids. These were all from 1 wife per family. Her maternal grandfather was one of 10 kids (plus 1 step-sister). Most of these people were "middle-class": clergymen, merchants and gentlemen farmers. A look at my own family tree (13 generations born in America) shows an average of 8 kids per marriage until the mid 19th century (the biggest litter I see was 11 kids). And these were also middle-class folks: farmers, tradesmen, craftsmen.

Women who were healthy and adequately fed had as many children as their bodies would allow them to have, and it often killed them young, quite often in childbirth, or from it. So, man of these children were left motherless at a very young age.

Mrs Duggar is truly blessed to live in a time and place where superior health care and nutrition allow her to deliver so many babies. Were this 1907 or earlier, she probably would have succumbed to complications long ago.

Still, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

"t seems more likely that more moms nursing overall equals more babies on the boob in public, which increases the likelihood that a handful of nincompoops will take offense and make a fuss."

I agree. And I do applaud the increasing rates of moms who give breastfeeding a shot.

I think, though, we do need more support/education/awareness to keep those numbers up. Little things, mostly: like, getting health insurance to cover the purchase or rental of a breast pump. Getting WIC to give out quality breast pumps an supplies (now they give out formula, but nothing that helps with lactation). Getting more lactation consultants into hospitals and pediatrician's offices. Educating pediatricians and OB-GYN's about lactation (so many moms are incorrectly advised to quit nursing when they encounter mastitis, or when they are given medication). Giving moms the time, space and respect to pump at work. Giving moms the respect when they discreetly nurse in public. But most of all, reminding women how truly fantastic breast feeding is for baby,. for mom, for the environment and the pocketbook.

The nincompoops are very low on my list of priorities.

Try googling "breastfeeding" and any of the following:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Center for Disease Control

La Leche League

Kellymom

Dr. Jack Newman (the world's leading breastfeeding expert)

World Health Organization

As to a specific study on diarrhea and breastmilk in industrialized countries, I can't say I've read one. BUT I will say that human breastmilk is ridiculously easy to digest, which results in looser stools than a formula-fed infant might have (the iron supplements in infant formula can be binding.) So, new moms often mistake normal breastmilk bms as "diarrhea" even though they're perfectly normal.

Infant fomula, since it is typically derived from cow's milk or soy, is a lot harder on the infant digestive tract. Some kids will get constipated, while others will have diarrhea. And if a kid gets rotovirus or some other tummy bug, a nursing baby will have a slight advantage over a formula-fed baby. Since human breastmilk is considered a "clear fluid," it can be fed to a kiddo who can't keep anything else down. And, because of it's digestability, even upset tummies can usually handle it, so symptoms of gastric distress, including diarrhea, tend to be milder and shorter-lived in breastfed babies.

Lastly, and I apologize if this is TMI, dirty diapers from exclusively breastfed babies are generally much less unpleasant, olfactory-wise. While I wouldn't want to wear "eau de breast fed baby diaper" cologne, I find the odor much more tolerable (almost like buttered popcorn, I swear!), than a formula dirty diaper (which is just gross).

Glad to hear WIC gives out hand pumps. That wasn't the case in CT in 2002.

However, while a hand pump is good in a pinch, an electric double pump is necessary for successful log-term pumping. (Medela Pump-in-Style, Ameda Purely Yours, Lactina Select, etc). Renting those can cost $80 a month. Purchasing is in the $200-$300 range. Still cheaper by far than formula ($1500 for one year is one estimate I remember from 2002). But help for lower-income working moms would be appreciated.

I like Tom Collins in the summer (and the winter. Sring and fall are good to). I'm probably the only Gen Xer who drinks them, but I don't care.

Gin (good gin, and not vodka. ever.)

Lemon juice

a touch of sugar

club soda

You can mix with crushed ice to make a smoothie texture, but usually that's too much work.

Do not use disgusting "sour mix."

Marachino cherry or slice of orange is optional, but hardly necessary (and often not even desirable).