Breastfeeding News and Research

Latest Breastfeeding News and Research

UN proposal on trans fats could harm nutrition in poor countries, experts warn

A draft UN declaration to eliminate trans-fatty acids from global diets has elicited a sharp reaction from experts who claim it violates the rights of the world's poorest to nutritional benefits of milk and meat.

23 Jul 2025

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy linked to lower breastfeeding rates

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) - like chronic or gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia - are among the leading causes of maternal and infant death in the United States.

18 Jul 2025

In utero exposure to vape liquids can alter skull shape during fetal development

In utero exposure to two liquid ingredients in e-cigarettes – minus the nicotine that drives addiction – can alter skull shape during fetal development, a new study in mice has found.

16 Jul 2025

Routine vaccines may be the key to fighting antibiotic resistance

A study reveals that rising vaccine coverage in children is linked to reduced antibiotic prescriptions, suggesting a shift in the fight against drug resistance.

16 Jul 2025

Early skin-to-skin contact boosts breastfeeding in premature babies

More premature babies who had early skin-to-skin contact with their mother were being breastfed at the time of discharge from hospital and for up to one year afterwards. However, this is far from the only benefit.

10 Jul 2025

Training boosts skin-to-skin contact between parents and newborns

Targeted training interventions for both health professionals and parents significantly increase the amount of skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their parents in the first 48 hours after birth. The proportion of babies who received nearly 24 hours of skin contact over the first 24 hours increased from 33 per cent to 58 per cent.

8 Jul 2025

Early exposure to plastics raises young children’s asthma risk

A large international study found that early-life exposure to phthalates, common chemicals in plastics, is modestly associated with increased risks of asthma, wheeze, and rhinitis in children under five. No consistent associations were found for bisphenols, and effects were generally small.

6 Jul 2025

Could your pregnancy diet shape your child’s immune future?

Researchers found that a pro-inflammatory maternal diet during pregnancy was linked to a 16% increased risk of type 1 diabetes in offspring. This large Danish cohort study suggests that maternal dietary patterns may shape long-term autoimmune risk in children.

2 Jul 2025

HHS eliminates CDC staff who made sure birth control is safe for women at risk

For Brianna Henderson, birth control isn’t just about preventing pregnancy.

1 Jul 2025

Missing gut bacteria in US babies triples allergy and eczema risk

US infants lacking Bifidobacterium in their gut microbiome face significant changes in microbial composition, metabolic function, and immune-related health risks. This large, nationally representative study links early-life Bifidobacterium deficits to a three-fold increase in eczema, allergy, or asthma by age two.

25 Jun 2025

New RSV guideline aims to standardize pediatric care across China

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRTIs) in children under five and poses a persistent threat to child health worldwide.

20 Jun 2025

Global guideline released by WHO on managing sickle cell disease in pregnancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its first-ever global guideline on the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy, addressing a critical and growing health challenge that can have life-threatening consequences for both women and babies.

19 Jun 2025

Supermarket ads push junk food for toddlers and infants

A study reveals Australian supermarkets' catalogs push junk food for infants, raising concerns about marketing practices and the need for stricter regulations.

17 Jun 2025

Paternal mental health found to impact child development

Experts from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago affirm the need to screen new fathers for mental distress, recognizing the mounting research that underscores the importance of fathers in child development.

16 Jun 2025

New hypothesis links caffeine to lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome

After decades of stalled national progress in reducing the rate of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), a category of infant mortality that includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), researchers at Rutgers Health have proposed an unexpected solution: Caffeine might protect babies by preventing dangerous drops in oxygen that may trigger deaths.

11 Jun 2025

Early signs of breastfeeding failures after premature birth

A study on breastfeeding after premature birth identifies key factors affecting milk composition and volume, emphasizing the need for early support for mothers.

10 Jun 2025

Maternal exposure to metals rewires infants’ gut and resistance genes

Prenatal exposure to trace elements like selenium, copper, and arsenic can significantly alter the infant gut microbiome, metabolism, and antibiotic resistance gene patterns. These changes appear as early as three months and evolve during the first year of life.

5 Jun 2025

Dog exposure may lower genetic risk of eczema in children

New research published in Allergy indicates that certain environmental exposures may affect a child's risk of developing atopic eczema, a condition characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. In other words, although some people may be genetically predisposed to eczema, certain environmental factors may increase or decrease that risk.

5 Jun 2025

Breastfeeding habits barely change milk’s microbiome, study reveals

A study shows that breastfeeding frequency and duration do not significantly alter the human milk microbiome, highlighting other influencing factors.

4 Jun 2025

Household environments may affect the likelihood of children developing eczema

Household environments, including owning a dog, may affect the likelihood of children developing eczema, according to an analysis of almost 300,000 people from across Europe.

4 Jun 2025