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Predictors of supplementation for breastfed babies in a Baby-Friendly hospital (NZ)

Predictors of supplementation for breastfed babies in a Baby-Friendly hospital (NZ) Stefanie Kalmakoff, Andrew Gray and Sally Baddock – Women and Birth – 2017 Abstract Problem Supplementation of breastfed babies is common during the hospital stay. Background The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) optimises practices to support exclusive breastfeeding, yet supplementation is still prevalent. Objective…

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A new resource for advocates: free webinar series on the WHO International Code

WEBINAR 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE BMS CODE “The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the Code): As relevant as ever. Although the Code was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981, there have been a number of subsequent resolutions (including WHA 69.9 of May 2016) that are also an important part of the Code.…

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Country experiences with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative – August 2017

“This set of case studies documents country experiences in implementing the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) over the 25 years of its existence. Each of the 13 case studies – from Bolivia to Viet Nam – includes a section on achievements, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in maternity facilities. Several…

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Mothering the mother – a vital part of increasing breastfeeding rates – Dr Amy Brown

“So what is the solution? Simple. We need to care for our new mothers better. Mother them. Love them. Invest in giving them the time and support they need after the birth and throughout those early months and years. Think wider than breastfeeding and ensure that new mothers are as rested, supported and yes, cherished,…

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Breastfeeding may be an important modifiable behavior to reduce endometriosis risk

History of breast feeding and risk of incident endometriosis: prospective cohort study. Farland et al – BMJ, 2017 Conclusion Among women who experienced at least one pregnancy that lasted at least six months, breastfeeding was inversely associated with risk of incident endometriosis. This association was partially, but not fully, influenced by postpartum amenorrhea, suggesting that breastfeeding…

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Breastfeeding protects against the development of Chrohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

 Xu et al – Alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics 2017 BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is a modifiable factor that may influence development of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, literature on this has been inconsistent and not accounted for heterogeneity in populations and exposure. AIM: To conduct a meta-analysis to examine the association between breastfeeding in infancy and risk of…

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New research finds link between some baby books and postnatal depression

“New research from academics in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences has explored the link between parenting books that encourage parents to try and put their babies into strict sleeping and feeding routines and maternal wellbeing.  The study found that the more mothers read these books, the more likely they were to…

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‘Quality of human milk expressed in a human milk bank and at home’

Journal of  Pediatrics 2017 Borges M. S, Oliveira A. M. M, Hattori W. T, Abdallah V. O. S. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of the human milk expressed at home and at a human milk bank. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of human milk expressed at home and at the milk bank are in agreement with the recommended standards,…

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‘Babies and sleep: a matter of choice’

by Pamela Douglas  “But does the research really prove sleep training’s efficacy? Senior figures continue to argue forcefully that it does, despite the failure of large randomised controlled trials to back these claims  …, and despite systematic reviews showing no improvement in night waking, nor reliable impact on maternal mental health … Parents continue to be…

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‘Australia is failing new parents with conflicting advice — it’s urgent we get it right’

by Pamela Douglas “What happens after a woman gives birth should be a matter of serious public interest. Screaming babies, breast pain, baby weight-gain worries, breastfeeding issues, wind, colic, reflux, allergies, tongue tie, sleep deprivation, and parental anxiety and depression. These are common concerns at the beginning of the life of every Australian citizen. In…

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