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New WHO guidance aims to strengthen care for preterm and low birth-weight babies

The World Health Organization (WHO) is marking its first official observance of World Prematurity Day with the launch of a new global clinical practice guide for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) – a simple, proven and life-saving intervention that significantly improves survival for preterm and low birth-weight babies.

14 Nov 2025

Cash transfer programs improve health outcomes across low- and middle-income countries

Large-scale, government-led cash transfer programs drove significant improvements in health outcomes across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), according to a major new study in The Lancet from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

10 Nov 2025

Tryptophan deficiency in breast milk may explain health challenges in children born to mothers with HIV

A new UCLA study reveals that breast milk from women living with HIV contains significantly lower levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid likely important for infant immune function, growth, and brain development.

28 Oct 2025

Study links extended breastfeeding to stronger infant immune health

Breastfeeding until at least six months helps babies to fight off infections and reduces chronic inflammation, according to a new study. And better understanding the way specific nutrients in breast milk impact the immune system will improve health outcomes for all infants including those not breastfed.

8 Oct 2025

Non-standard baby formula linked to faster infant growth

The use of non-standard infant formulas is associated with higher growth rates in the first year, necessitating further research on long-term health effects.

8 Oct 2025

Research shows Sudan Ebola's lasting impact and potential for mother-to-child transmission

More than half of survivors of the Sudan Ebola virus still suffer serious health problems two years post-infection and the virus can persist in semen and breast milk for months after recovery, according to the first study examining the virus's long-term effects.

3 Oct 2025

Fresh donor milk linked to reduced gastrointestinal complicatoins in premature infants

A study from the Medical University of South Carolina, published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, reveals that shorter storage durations of donor human milk are linked to reduced gastrointestinal complicatoins in premature infants, including necrotizing enterocolitis.

24 Sep 2025

New guideline improves nutritional care for neonates with enterostomy

Enterostomy is a vital intervention for many congenital developmental abnormalities and acquired gastrointestinal conditions in neonates.

19 Sep 2025

Microplastics pose potential risks to bone health

The production and use of over 400 million tons of plastic each year has polluted beaches, rivers, and even the deepest parts of the ocean, reaching depths of up to 11,000 meters.

18 Sep 2025

Peroxisomes identified as alternative heat producers in brown fat

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a novel way brown fat - an energy-burning form of fat - can rev the body's metabolic engine, consuming cellular fuel and producing heat in a way that improves metabolic health.

17 Sep 2025

Special subgroup of bifidobacteria found to reduce antibiotic resistance in infants

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark, DTU, document that a special subgroup of naturally occurring bifidobacteria plays a crucial role in reducing antibiotic resistance in infants.

17 Sep 2025

Mediterranean-style diet benefits maternal health during pregnancy and breastfeeding

A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fiber, vegetable proteins and healthy fats, benefits maternal health during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

10 Sep 2025

Core sugars in breast milk fuel gut and brain health beyond 12 months

Researchers reviewed 13 studies of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) through 24 months of breastfeeding, analyzing 4,786 samples. Six “core” HMOs remained dominant, with total concentrations plateauing after 12 months and evidence suggesting persistence into the second year.

8 Sep 2025

How breast milk changes from day to night and why timing matters

Breast milk's hormonal and microbial variations throughout the day may affect infant development, emphasizing the need for synchronized feeding practices.

8 Sep 2025

New insights into how breast milk supports baby’s internal clock

Breast milk is the first 'super food' for many babies. Full of vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds, it helps build the young immune system and is widely considered the optimal source of infant nutrition.

5 Sep 2025

Breastfeeding at six months boosts children’s IQ and academic skills into adolescence

Breastfeeding at six months was linked to higher IQ, better reading and math skills, and improved conversational abilities in children, according to the ALSPAC study. The findings, based on 42 significant outcomes, highlight long-term cognitive advantages but stop short of proving causality.

1 Sep 2025

New global consensus offers hope for women with inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy

For women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pregnancy can be an uncertain time due to limited clinical data about how IBD medications impact pregnancy outcomes and infants who have been exposed to IBD medications in utero.

28 Aug 2025

Killifish study reveals multi-generational impacts of exposure to crude oil and flame retardants

A tiny fish with transparent embryos is helping University of California, Davis, researchers shed light on how exposure to crude oil and flame retardants can affect behavior, skeletal growth, cardiac health and other internal functions in offspring and subsequent generations.

28 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria may connect pregnancy diet to childhood autism

Unhealthy maternal diets may alter gut microbes, impacting brain development and increasing autism risk in offspring. Study the microbiome's influence.

8 Aug 2025

Breast milk fatty acids help babies sleep longer, study finds

Researchers found that higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in human milk are associated with longer sleep duration in exclusively breastfed two-month-old infants. The strongest effects were observed for daytime (diurnal) sleep, especially with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

5 Aug 2025