Hírolvasó

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundBreast hypoplasia is one reason for insufficient milk supply. Case reports use wide intra-mammary width and certain breast appearances as markers of breast hypoplasia. However, the reliability of these variables has not been determined.Research aimsTo test the (i) interrater and intrarater reliability of intra-mammary width measurement and interrater reliability of categorizing women’s breasts into breast types, and (ii) feasibility and acceptability of study procedures for the participants.MethodsThis was a prospective, longitudinal, non-experimental design with survey and observational components of a convenience sample of early postpartum women (N = 31). Interrater and intrarater reliability were measured using intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement for intra-mammary width measurements. Interrater reliability was measured using weighted kappa for agreement for categorizing breast type. Feasibility and acceptability of study procedures were collected 1 month later.ResultsExcellent intrarater and interrater reliability for the intra-mammary width measurement (ICC = 0.99, 95% CI [0.99, 0.997] and ICC = 0.88, 95% CI [0.74, 0.94], respectively) and fair interrater reliability for breast type categorization (k = 0.35, 95% CI [−0.05, 0.75]) with high level of agreement between raters (97%) were achieved. Proportions of participants agreeing to breast photography and acceptability of study procedures were 68% (21/31) and 100% (28/28) respectively.ConclusionThe excellent reliability for the intra-mammary width measurement means it provides a useful measure for future research. Since the “fair” reliability of categorizing breast type was due to lack of breast shape range in our sample, future research could assess the breasts of women with different medical profiles.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, a troubling trend emerged—as hospitals struggled to understand the new risk, birthing parents and their infants were routinely being separated. Parents were told not to breastfeed or chestfeed, or counseled to only feed expressed milk. Babies were spending the first days of their lives unable to be in contact with […]

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored.Research AimTo determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression.MethodsThis study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months.ResultsExclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding.ConclusionExclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women’s exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundThe continuity of maternal depressive symptoms throughout the perinatal period and breastfeeding problems have adverse influences on breastfeeding.Research aimTo compare the feeding patterns and breastfeeding experiences, maternal health and mental health, and breastfeeding self-efficacy between women with depressive symptoms who participated in a prenatal individualized mixed management intervention and those who received usual care.MethodsChinese primigravida (N = 182) with an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 9 in late pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks and < 35 weeks) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 84) or the control group (n = 84). Intervention group participants received four sessions of individualized mixed management combining psycho-education and breastfeeding education. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, feeding patterns, maternal depression, and health status were evaluated in both groups.ResultsSignificant differences were noted between the groups in breastfeeding self-efficacy at 42 days postpartum (p < .05) and feeding patterns at 3 months and 6 months postpartum (p < .05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant differences in the EPDS scores between groups at three postpartum time points (p < .05). The intervention group had significantly lower postpartum depression as diagnosed by the MINI (p < .05).ConclusionsA prenatal individualized mixed management intervention holds promise as an effective prevention and health promotion program addressing breastfeeding outcomes and maternal mental health.This RCT was registered (ChiCTR-IOR-17013761) with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx on 12/7/2017.

By Melissa Bartick, MD, MS, FABM This week, the results of the COVID Mothers Study were published in Breastfeeding Medicine, providing more evidence that it may be safe to keep mothers and newborns together and, importantly, that separating them causes significant harm.  Indeed, as the authors point out, the “significantly low rate of [neonatal] hospitalization […]

Show your pride in transforming world health through skilled lactation care. Educate your community by changing your Facebook Profile Frame to celebrate IBCLC Day! This day – celebrated in 2021 on 3 March – is an opportunity to honor how IBCLCs transform world health by providing skilled lactation care. (Find other ways to celebrate IBCLC […]

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, one issue quickly rose to the surface for birthing families and their providers. Considering the new risks, could parents and their infants safely remain together? It was a scary time for birthing parents and those who support them, as stories of painful separation abounded from areas around […]

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00335-3.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundIt is known that breastfeeding protects the infant from enteric and respiratory infections; however, the antiviral properties of human milk against enteric and respiratory viruses are largely unexplored.Research aimsTo explore the antiviral activity of human preterm colostrum against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and to assess whether the derived extracellular vesicle contribute to this activity.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional, prospective two-group non-experimental design. Colostra were collected from mothers of preterm newborns (N = 10) and extracellular vesicles were purified and characterized. The antiviral activity of colostra and derived extracellular vesicles were tested in vitro against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and the step of viral replication inhibited by extracellular vesicles was investigated.ResultsEach sample of colostrum and colostrum-derived extracellular vesicles had significant antiviral activity with a wide interpersonal variability. Mechanism of action studies demonstrated that extracellular vesicles acted by interfering with the early steps of the viral replicative cycle.ConclusionWe demonstrated the intrinsic antiviral activity of human colostrum against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and we showed that extracellular vesicles substantially contribute to the overall protective effect. Our results contribute to unravelling novel mechanisms underlying the functional role of human milk as a protective and therapeutic agent in preterm infants.

Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Since 1980, alongside IBFAN partners, Patti Rundall has worked to build collaborative networks that help countries bring in legally binding controls based on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the United Nations World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolutions. Conflicts of interest and their impact on policymaking, research, education, and health systems has been a cross-cutting theme of her work, which has focused on the adoption and strengthening of the European Union’s baby food legislation and the improvement of Codex Global Trading Standards. With IBFAN, she helped countries adop many resolutions including WHA Resolution 49.15 https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/WHA49.15_iycn_en.pdf?ua=1 (1996) about conflicts of interest; she helped found and launch the Conflicts of Interest Coalition at the UN General Assembly. Patti is a founder of Baby Feeding Law Group (the alliance of 23 United Kingdom health professional and mother-support organizations), a member of the Infant Feeding in Emergencies core group and a leader in company campaigns (e.g., the Nestlé Boycott). She represented IBFAN on the European Commission’s Platform for Action on Diet and Physical Activity from 2007 until 2019. In the year 2000 she was awarded the title Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for her service to infant nutrition. (This is a verbatim interview: MA = Maryse Arendt; PR = Patti Rundall.)

Existing knowledge on the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the context of Nigeria is minimal and limited to a lifelong measure of IPV experience. An abu...

Irrespective of the place and mode of delivery, ‘delayed’ initiation of breastfeeding beyond the first hour of birth can negatively influence maternal and newborn health outcomes. In Bangladesh, 49% of newborn...

Despite established benefits, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate remains poor in India. This study measured the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF up to 42 days postpartum period and the reasons...

Substantial evidence exists surrounding the health risks of breast milk substitutes (BMS) in place of exclusive breastfeeding among infants < 6 months of age in resource-poor settings. Yet, mothers’ experience...

Despite the increasing rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia, there is still a need for supportive interventions. The breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers is a key factor positively associated with op...

The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may...

Today’s busy families want lactation information that is quick, easy, and lovely to the eye. That’s why I joined forces with the talented people at Noodle Soup to create for those in the U.S. a series of infographics on some of the most in-demand lactation topics.

 I’m thrilled to announce a new addition to this series! The #2 reason new parents give formula and wean prematurely is nipple pain. This new infographic—“Sore Nipple Basics”—directly addresses this problem and offers guidance on ways to achieve comfortable nursing. My hope is that it will help more families meet their feeding goals.  

All five of my infographics come in tearpads of 50 with one side in English and the other side in Spanish. You can find all five on one page HERE, or you can click on the titles below to link to their order pages on the Noodle Soup website.  

Sore Nipple Basics Includes positioning and latching strategies that can reduce pain, as well as other possible causes of nipple pain and who to contact for help.

Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?  Includes reliable signs that baby’s milk intake is adequate, expected feeding patterns in nursing newborns, and the most common false alarms. 

Working & Breastfeeding  The most important aspects of working and breastfeeding that nursing families need to know to meet their long-term feeding goals.

Pumping Primer  A simple guide to expressing milk that includes the key points needed for successful pumping.

For Baby’s Caregiver  Ways caregivers can support nursing families, including how to pace bottle feeds to avoid overfeeding during the workday.

Ethnic Chinese mothers in Malaysia adhere to 30 days of traditional postpartum practices (the “confinement period”) aimed at recuperation after delivery. Recently there has been an emergence of confinement cen...