Hírolvasó

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Labels are a key element of the marketing strategies of infant formula companies, and often include text or images that idealize their use, undermining efforts to promote breastfeeding.Research Aims:To evaluate the prevalence of marketing cues that idealize infant formula on labels of products commercialized in Uruguay and to assess changes after a periodic monitoring of compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (IC).Method:This study is a descriptive, observational, and longitudinal assessment of the information included on infant formula labels. The first data collection was in 2019, as part of a periodic assessment to monitor the marketing of human-milk substitutes. In 2021, the same products were purchased to evaluate changes in their labels. Thirty-eight products were identified in 2019, of which 33 were still available in 2021. All information available on the labels was analyzed through content analysis.Results:Most products included at least one textual or visual marketing cue idealizing infant formula in both 2019 (n = 30, 91%) and 2021 (n = 29, 88%). This represents a violation of both the IC and national regulations. References to nutritional composition were the most frequent marketing cue, followed by references to child growth and development. No relevant changes were observed after the periodic assessment conducted by the Uruguayan government.Conclusions:Monitoring compliance with the IC per se cannot be expected to trigger changes in the marketing strategies of infant formula companies. More explicit regulations and strong enforcement mechanisms are needed to end the inappropriate marketing practices on infant formula labels.

In Indonesia, nearly half of all children aged less than six months were not exclusively breastfed in 2017. This study aimed to compare the cost of providing direct or indirect exclusive breastfeeding 0–6 mont...

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
IntroductionInduction of lactation in a non-gestational parent has numerous potential benefits including parent–child bonding, optimal nutrition, and health benefits to the child and breast- or chest-feeding parent. For transgender women and nonbinary people on estrogen-based, gender-affirming hormone therapy, the ability to nourish their infants through production of their own milk may also be a profoundly gender-affirming experience. Two prior case studies have been published describing induced lactation in transgender women, but analysis of the nutritional quality of the milk produced has not been previously described.Main issueHere we describe the experience of a transgender woman who underwent successful induction of lactation in order to breastfeed her infant, who was gestated by her partner.ManagementThrough modification of exogenous hormone therapy, use of domperidone as a galactogogue, breast pumping, and ultimately direct breastfeeding, the participant was able to co-feed her infant for the first 4 months of life. We provide a detailed description and timeline of the medications used, laboratory and electrocardiographic measurements, results of the participant’s milk analysis showing robust macronutrient content, and description of the participant’s experience in her own words.ConclusionThese findings provide reassurance about the adequacy of nutrition from human milk produced by non-gestational transgender female and nonbinary parents on estrogen-based, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and support the importance of this experience on a personal level.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Adriano Cattaneo holds an MD degree from the University of Padua, Italy, and an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He spent most of his professional career in low-income countries, including 4 years as medical officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. After returning to Italy, he worked for 20 years as an epidemiologist at the Unit for Health Services Research and International Health, the Institute for Maternal and Child Health (IRCCS Burlo Garofolo) in Trieste, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health. He is the author of more than 220 publications in scientific journals and books, more than 100 of which are in peer reviewed journals. He has been affiliated with International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) in Italy since it was created in 2001. As project coordinator of two European Union funded projects, he played an important role in the development of the document Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding in Europe: A Blueprint for Action, a tool tested and used for the development of national breastfeeding policies and programs. He retired in 2014.

by Lisa Mandell, MBA, IBCLC and Tova Ovits, BA, IBCLC The USA launch of the Lancet Series on Breastfeeding took place 18 April 2023 in New York, New York, USA, and was attended by representatives of the International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®), including Tova Ovits, BA, IBCLC, secretary of the ILCA Board of Directors, and […]

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and determinants of breastfeeding in 2008 and 2018, respectively, in Northeast China, where health service efficiency is at the lowest national level and ...

The number of breastfeeding mothers participating in a labor force to generate income has been increasing in Nepal. In this regard, the study aims to assess the survival of Under 3 children in Nepal from the m...

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Tandem breastfeeding is defined as a situation in which a mother continues breastfeeding her child through a subsequent pregnancy, including after the new baby is born. In some countries where motherhood may be delayed and the time between births may be reduced, support for the promotion of tandem breastfeeding is necessary to help mothers continue to breastfeed their eldest child and avoid early weaning. There is no existing research about mothers’ motivations to breastfeed in tandem.Research Aim:To explore the motivations of women to initiate and maintain tandem breastfeeding, based on their lived experience, framed within the self-determination theory.Methods:A prospective, cross-sectional, interpretive, phenomenological study was carried out through in-depth interviews with 15 mothers in Madrid, who had practiced tandem breastfeeding for more than 6 months, and whose weaning of their eldest child had occurred within the previous year. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were analyzed using an established interpretive phenomenological analysis process.Results:Among the motivations for initiating tandem breastfeeding, the following themes were identified: “avoid wasting the effort invested,” “desire such life experience,” and “exercise the freedom to decide.” The motivations for maintaining tandem breastfeeding were classified as “pass on parenting values” and “benefits of teamwork.”Conclusion:The participants based their motivation to tandem breastfeed to follow their freely chosen motherhood model. They discovered the advantages of its implementation, forming a team of themselves and their children, and healing their traumatic perinatal experiences.

Doulas have been instrumental in providing breastfeeding support to nursing mothers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they can significantly impact a mother's ability to initiate and maintain breastf...

Improved breastfeeding practices have the potential to save the lives of over 823,000 children under 5 years old globally every year. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global campaign by the Wo...

High-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization (72–75 °C, 15 s) is an alternative treatment to traditional Holder pasteurization (HoP) (62ºC, 30 min) for donor milk. HTST pasteurization guarantees the milk’...

Mothers requiring the antiarrhythmic agent flecainide are often advised not to breastfeed, because of the lack of data concercing neonatal effects and flecainide plasma concentrations following maternal exposu...

By Popular Demand! We are extending by one week—to April 17—the early-bird pricing for our 2023 Book Group. Register now HERE!!!

How much can you save? Our early-bird pricing is:

• 36 L-CERPs: $199 (regular price: $249)

• No CERPs: $149 (regular price: $200)

How we connect virtually. This book group incorporates Zoom meetings and Thinkific, an easy-to-use online learning platform. A day or two after you register, you will get an invitation to join us on Thinkific, where you will see the required reading listed for each of our ten sessions.

You will need to get your own copy of Breastfeeding Answers, 2nd Edition, either a hardcover copy or an e-book PDF edition (available HERE). The 1st edition (or any of the earlier Breastfeeding Answer Books) will not do! So much has changed! You will read the assigned chapters, attend our live Zoom meetings (or listen to the recording of our live meeting discussion and its Q&A), and review any supplemental materials. If you registered for our 36 L-CERPs version, you will take the quiz at the end of each session. For IBCLCs using these L-CERPs to recertify by CERPs, see a breakdown of their topic areas HERE.

When will the book group take place? It will meet from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Eastern time on the following dates: 

• Session 1: Sunday, April 30, 2023

• Session 2: Sunday, May 7, 2023

• Session 3: Sunday, May 21, 2023

• Session 4: Sunday, June 4, 2023

• Session 5: Sunday, June 11, 2023

• Session 6: Sunday, July 2, 2023

• Session 7: Sunday, July 9, 2023

• Session 8: Sunday, July 16, 2023

• Session 9: Sunday, July 23, 2023

• Session 10: Sunday, July 30, 2023

Each session consists of a 2-hour Zoom meeting where we will discuss the materials and answer questions. It includes a 20-minute small-group break-out discussion of the practical applications of that session’s material. Before each session, you read the assigned chapters (some sessions cover one chapter, others two or three) and any supporting materials. If you registered for CERPs, after our Zoom meeting, you will take a short quiz.

You must buy the most recent book: Breastfeeding Answers, 2nd Edition by Nancy Mohrbacher (available HERE).

The Zoom meetings will be recorded so you have the flexibility of missing any or all of the live session if needed and then listening to them at your leisure on Thinkific. You will have access to all the materials until September 1, 2023.

To learn more about the book group, watch our short video below.

Hope you can join us!

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) recently sat down with Hannah Rice, MPH, IBCLC, Chair of the 2023 Conference Program Task Force (CPTF) for a behind-the-scenes look at program-planning for the ILCA 2023 Annual Conference, taking place 13-15 August 2023 at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. With a number of innovative […]

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Pregnant and recently pregnant people have lower vaccination rates against SARS-CoV-2 than the general population, despite increased risk of adverse outcomes from infection. Little is known about vaccine hesitancy in this population.Research Aim:To characterize SARS-CoV-2 and other vaccine attitudes of lactating people who accepted the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, describing their vaccine experiences to further contextualize their beliefs.Methods:A prospective cross-sectional online survey design was used. We administered the survey to 100 lactating people in Pennsylvania from April to August 2021, upon enrollment into a longitudinal study investigating SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antibodies in human milk. This survey assessed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine attitudes, vaccine counseling from providers, and vaccine decision making. Associations between vaccination timing and beliefs were analyzed by Pearson chi-square.Results:Of 100 respondents, all received ≥ 1 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine before or shortly after enrollment, with 44% (n = 44) vaccinated in pregnancy and 56% (n = 56) while lactating. Participants reported vaccination counseling by obstetric (n = 48; 70%) and pediatric (n = 25; 36%) providers. Thirty-two percent (n = 32) received no advice on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination from healthcare providers, while 69% (n = 69) were counseled that vaccination was safe and beneficial.While 6% (n = 6) and 5% (n = 5) reported concerns about the safety of maternal vaccines for lactating people or their infants, respectively, 12% (n = 12) and 9% (n = 9) expressed concerns about the safety of maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in particular.Conclusions:Despite high uptake of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among participants, safety concerns persisted, with many reporting a lack of direct counseling from providers. Future research should investigate how variability in provider counseling affects SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in perinatal populations.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Want a fun way to take your lactation knowledge and skills to the next level? Looking to earn 36 L-CERPs in an interactive setting rather than passive screen time? Need to prepare for the IBLCE exam?

Early-bird pricing ends April 10 and space is limited in our upcoming book group. (Watch our short video below or click HERE for more details and to register.) Delve deeply with us into my 2020 comprehensive resource, Breastfeeding Answers, Second Edition.

What is a book group? It consists of like-minded people who read the same material then meet—often with a glass of wine!—for an informed discussion on its contents. The power of a book group lies in the insights and experiences shared by its members. It also offers welcome connection with colleagues.

Using the best learning technology plus live Zoom meetings, our book group will take place on 10 Sunday afternoons from April 30 through July 30, 2023 (skipping some Sundays). Once there, you can ask questions and share your thoughts. Live sessions are also recorded for later viewing.

For fun or to earn CERPs, join us while learning about the latest lactation research and techniques.

Structured, interactive discussions are led with warmth and wit by Barbara Robertson, MA, IBCLC (a Clinical Lactation Contributing Editor and IBCLC in private practice), this absorbing learning experience springs from Barbara’s passion and training in adult education. Barbara and I hope to provide inspiration we along with practical strategies for boosting your effectiveness with nursing families. 

An opportunity to connect with wise colleagues worldwide. Previous book groups included both experienced and new breastfeeding supporters from around the world. I am thrilled for this chance to spend time with an international group of lactation enthusiasts. Join us for this priceless opportunity to explore the secrets of my 2020 book and tap into our collective wisdom.

Hope to see you there!

by Lisa Mandell, ILCA Global Advocacy Advisor and Zoe Faulkner, ILCA Board of Directors The Lancet published a powerful 2023 Series on Breastfeeding during an in-person event held 8 February 2023 in London, United Kingdom. International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) Board Member Zoe Faulkner, who is also Chair of Lactation Consultants of Great Britain, attended […]

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:It is well known that the best nutritional option for infants is human milk, and that when breastfeeding is not possible, human milk banks are a possible alternative. However, in the case of infants with fat transport disorder like chylothorax, defatting of human milk is mandatory.Research Aim:The aim of the study was to reduce milk fat content without reducing other nutrients, increasing oxidative stress, or introducing harmful microorganisms.Methods:In this prospective, cross-sectional, observational study, we examined the influence of defatting and pasteurization of 50 donor samples on fat, macro- and micronutrients, as well as on oxidative stress markers.Results:Low-temperature centrifugation proved to be very efficient in defatting, reducing the concentration of triglycerides by 85% and cholesterol by 50%. The macronutrients (proteins, albumin, and Immunoglobulin A) did not undergo significant changes due to defatting and pasteurization procedures, while iron decreased by 36%. However, as the majority of iron is retained, this result does not remarkably change the milk composition. Furthermore, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant levels were unchanged, and the milk result was microbiologically safe.Conclusions:Cold milk centrifugation proved to be an effective technique that allows the reduction of human milk lipids. The determination of triglycerides and cholesterol can be used as an indicator of skimming. This procedure is not accompanied by substantial modifications of other components present in the milk.