Given the extreme rate TBM's seem to pump out kids (my sisters both had 4 under 4 within as many years of being married), has anyone done a study to see if there's a higher rate of illness/health problems? Both of them constantly seem to be at the ER for this, that or the other. I think 7 of the 8 kids between the two families have had surgery (or surgeries) for health related problems ranging from tonsils/adenoids to sleep disorders and even heart problems. Could this be from the increased rate of births? It'd be interesting to see a study done if it hasn't already been.

We had 3 in 4 years starting right away.

No health problems to speak of.

I'm from a medium sized blended family where the kids are spread out a bit. I ended up with skin, lung, breathing, & allergy chronic health conditions.

Like I said, just a theory. Maybe it's living in Utah that makes their kids sick. If that's the case, glad I'm in the Midwest.

I never had kids, but sure had a lot of 'female' problems while in UT. Other problems such as major depression, and multiple surgeries for other problems as well while in UT. Funny how I never had ANY health issues before I moved there. Id love to be part of that survey. Maybe its due to the pressure of TSCC to be the perfect family, of which we all know now that it does NOT exist.

I think it is the inbreeding-- My family in this generation has a Downs baby, Wegener's Granulomatosis, and Addison's disease. The entire family has problems (aunts, uncles, cousins) with migraines. Oh-- and forgot lymphoma--



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2013 08:25PM by cynthus.

My cousin died of CF. Her dad (thank god he's not my uncle anymore - what an asshole) was a multi-generational BIC from Utah. Unfortunately for my aunt who was a convert, they both happened to be CF-gene carriers.

There is solid research showing spacing children too close is not good.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/family-planning/MY01691

I have four kids but three of them are only two years apart. One child has bipolar disorder, one has autism and ataxia, one has no issues at all and another was born with pulmonary stenosis.

My mom was from long lines of BIC Mormons on both sides of her family, with a number of cousinly marriages in the family tree.

She had seven live births (although one baby died within an hour) and at least four miscarriages. By the time she had her last child (at age 32), she had thyroid problems, severe fibroids and/or endometriosis (probably a biological or genetic component to it), chronic pain from unhealed childbirth-related injuries, a painkiller addiction that spiraled into more serious stuff, depression, chronic pain from an undiagnosed medical condition that was discovered at autopsy, and serious mood swings. If she had never had children or only had 1-2, she probably would have avoided many of the physical issues and been able to concentrate on improving her mental health.

As for the health of her children:

One was premature and died right after birth. Had he gone full-term, there was only 11 months between him and the next older sibling. Her obstetrician counseled her very strongly to NOT get pregnant again. She gave birth to two more.

Two have Type I diabetes, which is genetic through her side.

Three have Marfan syndrome, which is genetic through her side.

Four either currently struggle or have struggled with alcohol, drug or painkiller addiction (or all three), which may have a genetic component through her side.

Two have been diagnosed as bipolar, as have many of her family members for the last three generations.

I'd like to see a study about multi-generational TBM families, too. But who would be brave enough (and have the funding) to do it?

My cousin got pregnant with her second baby within a few months after giving birth.
Second baby was born prematurely (at seven months) and died within 24 hours.

Not every woman's body can handle the non-stop baby making.

Cousin eventually had one more child and they stopped.

Breeding continually is NOT good for anyone. Animals have more sense. They go into HEAT, then breed. TMBs just breed breed breed. Must be in heat all the time. Being pregnant continually would make me hateful toward sex. Oh well.......

No kidding--I had many TBMS ask me, "Did you CHOOSE to have babies that far apart?" My children are 3 1/2 years apart in age. We did this on purpose--I felt strongly that 1) kids deserve some time as the baby and to develop; 2) I was an older mother (had my first at age 35); and 3) I worked full-time and didn't feel I could handle being constantly pregnant with really young kids while working full-time.

I spaced my kids both for their sakes and mine. I had wanted more than two, but I'm glad now we stopped at two.

I'm convinced now that my now-deceased TBM grandparents used condoms & diaphragms. They had 6 kids. But the kids were all 3-5 1/2 years apart. I think the only time they ever had all 6 kids at home was right after my mom's oldest brother got back from his mission.

To me, this could be a reason why Utah often ranks #1 for antidepressant use, since PPD is a common thing that can happen with one pregnancy, let alone several.

Maybe it has more to do with all the jello salad, nauvoo potatoes, soda pop, and cookies... oh wait, those were blessed.