Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:Although the reasons for discontinued breastfeeding are multifactorial, an unsupportive work environment is consistently reported as a barrier to continued breastfeeding. In the United States, several state breastfeeding advocates have taken a distinctive approach to promote worksite lactation support by developing statewide recognition initiatives aimed at incentivizing employers to support breastfeeding employees by offering public recognition for the worksites’ efforts.Research aim:To identify and describe statewide worksite lactation support recognition initiatives in the United States.Methods:Between May 2016 and June 2017, semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with breastfeeding experts in each U.S. state (N = 60 participants) for this cross-sectional study. Experts in states with a recognition initiative were asked about the background, structure, and requirements of the initiative.Results:Twenty-six states had a current initiative, and some had requirements for providing a private space (n = 19; 73%) and time (n = 18; 69%) for employees to express human milk, as well as a written worksite lactation support policy (n = 10; 38%).Conclusions:This was the first study in which researchers systematically identified ongoing worksite lactation support recognition initiatives in the United States. The results of this work also served to highlight both the similarities and the variety between initiatives. Future researchers should aim to determine the components of an initiative that increase employer support and, in turn, breastfeeding rates.
Suboptimal breastfeeding is responsible for 96% of deaths among children under 12 months of age in developing countries. However, the exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria from birth to 6 months is just 23%....
Breastfeeding practices such as early initiation of breast milk and exclusive breastfeeding are key to the reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of these practices, rates of ti...
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF recommend that secondary schools include infant feeding education in the curriculum. However, little attention has been given to the study of educators’ views and practices regarding infant feeding education.Aims:The aims of this research were to (1) explore North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ attitudes towards infant feeding education in secondary schools and (2) describe North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ infant feeding education practices.Methods:Researchers conducted interviews (N = 19) and a survey (N = 137) using a sequential mixed methods design. The constant comparative method was used to analyze interview transcripts. Subsequently, a 33-item survey was developed to assess teachers’ attitudes and practices, and this survey was tested for validity and reliability.Results:The majority of participants supported including infant feeding (n = 119, 86.9%) and breastfeeding (n = 116, 84.7%) education in high school. Approximately half of the participants supported including infant feeding (n = 71, 51.9%) and breastfeeding (n = 64, 46.7%) education in middle school. Participants reported that they taught infant feeding at both levels; topics taught included complementary foods, patterns of infant feeding, and the safe preparation of infant formula. Breastfeeding content was covered primarily in the high school Parenting and Child Development course.Conclusions:North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers have positive attitudes towards teaching about breastfeeding at the secondary school level. Content about infant nutrition and breastfeeding is currently included in courses that cover child development and human nutrition.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Background:The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF recommend that secondary schools include infant feeding education in the curriculum. However, little attention has been given to the study of educators’ views and practices regarding infant feeding education.Aims:The aims of this research were to (1) explore North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ attitudes towards infant feeding education in secondary schools and (2) describe North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ infant feeding education practices.Methods:Researchers conducted interviews (N = 19) and a survey (N = 137) using a sequential mixed methods design. The constant comparative method was used to analyze interview transcripts. Subsequently, a 33-item survey was developed to assess teachers’ attitudes and practices, and this survey was tested for validity and reliability.Results:The majority of participants supported including infant feeding (n = 119, 86.9%) and breastfeeding (n = 116, 84.7%) education in high school. Approximately half of the participants supported including infant feeding (n = 71, 51.9%) and breastfeeding (n = 64, 46.7%) education in middle school. Participants reported that they taught infant feeding at both levels; topics taught included complementary foods, patterns of infant feeding, and the safe preparation of infant formula. Breastfeeding content was covered primarily in the high school Parenting and Child Development course.Conclusions:North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers have positive attitudes towards teaching about breastfeeding at the secondary school level. Content about infant nutrition and breastfeeding is currently included in courses that cover child development and human nutrition.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Breastfeeding rates among high income, western countries vary considerably. This research examines three countries, Sweden, Ireland, and the United States, with respect to both public health initiatives and po...
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual celebration of the role of breastfeeding in our homes, our communities, and the world. As a part of our 2019 theme, Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding, we are proud to announce that Journal of Human Lactation (JHL) is making available 5 essential articles to everyone – FREE* through 31 August […]
By Dr. Jane Morton “I’m going to try.” This is the tentative answer many mothers give, instead of “Yes, I’m going to breastfeed!” Why do so many women worry that breastfeeding may be complicated, painful and probably dependent on professional help? If breastfeeding is so natural, why doesn’t it come naturally, as it seems to […]
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Happy World Breastfeeding Week! International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) is excited to join World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and other organizations and individuals the world over in celebrating #WBW2019. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2019 is Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding. ILCA will feature resources throughout the week of 1-7 August to help you make the […]
Being a mother of a preterm infant (< 37 gestational weeks) puts the mother in a vulnerable and fragile situation wherein breastfeeding is an important part of becoming a mother and bonding with the infant. Ne...
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Understanding the association of maternal health services and early initiation of br...
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is a medical complication that develops during pregnancy, is associated with several long-term health problems. Despite several benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (E...
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) can prevent death and disease among young children. The proportion of EBF is low in Niger. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of exclusive breastfeeding.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Introduction:Mammary dysbiosis, also known as subacute mastitis, may be associated with nipple blebs. These overlapping diagnoses represent a challenging clinical scenario during lactation. Little research has been published on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes of these concurrent diagnoses.Main issue:We document the treatment and outcome of a patient who presented with left-breast dysbiosis and nipple blebs and whose milk culture grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated safely and effectively with intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin. This has not been described previously in the lactation literature.Management:The 35-year-old lactating gravida 3, para 3 patient presented at 6 months postpartum to a breast surgery clinic with a 1-week history of worsening deep left-breast pain, blebs, and recurrent plugging. She was afebrile and she had no erythema or induration on her breast exam. A culture of her milk grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and she was referred to infectious disease for assistance with intravenous antibiotic therapy. She continued to feed expressed milk throughout treatment and demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms 8 weeks later.Conclusions:We report that in patients with a multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–positive human milk culture and a clinical presentation of mammary dysbiosis and nipple blebs, intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin may be an effective treatment.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
Introduction:Mammary dysbiosis, also known as subacute mastitis, may be associated with nipple blebs. These overlapping diagnoses represent a challenging clinical scenario during lactation. Little research has been published on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes of these concurrent diagnoses.Main issue:We document the treatment and outcome of a patient who presented with left-breast dysbiosis and nipple blebs and whose milk culture grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated safely and effectively with intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin. This has not been described previously in the lactation literature.Management:The 35-year-old lactating gravida 3, para 3 patient presented at 6 months postpartum to a breast surgery clinic with a 1-week history of worsening deep left-breast pain, blebs, and recurrent plugging. She was afebrile and she had no erythema or induration on her breast exam. A culture of her milk grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and she was referred to infectious disease for assistance with intravenous antibiotic therapy. She continued to feed expressed milk throughout treatment and demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms 8 weeks later.Conclusions:We report that in patients with a multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–positive human milk culture and a clinical presentation of mammary dysbiosis and nipple blebs, intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin may be an effective treatment.
Journal of Human Lactation, Ahead of Print.
