Breastfeeding News and Research

Latest Breastfeeding News and Research

How maternal microbes shape babies’ gut health and disease risk

Early microbial exposures from maternal microbes, milk components, and the environment shape infant gut development and long-term disease risk. The review highlights mechanisms, preventive levers, and research gaps in supporting healthy microbiome inheritance across generations.

29 Sep 2025

Trump claims ‘no downside’ to avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy. He’s wrong.

Obstetricians have long advised their pregnant patients that Tylenol is the safest option to reduce fever or pain. President Donald Trump stood before a national audience on Sept. 22 and contradicted that.

24 Sep 2025

New NIH grant supports development of experimental pediatric HIV vaccine

A multi-institutional team led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has been awarded a five-year, $20.8 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, for advanced preclinical development of a promising experimental HIV vaccine.

18 Sep 2025

Long COVID linked to heavier periods and symptom flare-ups during menstruation

Researchers found that long COVID is linked to heavier, longer, and more irregular bleeding without disrupting ovulation. Symptom severity also peaks around menstruation, likely driven by hormonal and immune changes.

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

Children show high exposure to PFAS despite regulatory restrictions

These chemical compounds are highly stable and linger in the environment. Thanks to their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties, they are widely found in everyday items, such as non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, food containers and fire-fighting foams.

15 Sep 2025

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy cuts babies’ food allergy risk

Researchers found that mothers who closely followed a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding had infants with lower odds of developing food allergies. High fruit, vegetable, and full-fat dairy intake appeared protective, while higher poultry, red meat, and fish intake during pregnancy increased risk.

15 Sep 2025

Early parent-focused programs fail to reduce childhood obesity by age two

Existing approaches to parent-focused behavioral programs delivered up to 12 months of age which aim to combat childhood obesity are insufficient to improve body mass index (BMI) at approximately two years of age, according to the largest study to date on the topic published in The Lancet.

10 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

Pesticide exposure during pregnancy linked to higher death risk in children with leukemia

Public concern continues to grow about the harmful effects of pesticides and other environmental pollutants, especially for children. Pesticides have previously been linked to a higher risk of developing childhood leukemia.

9 Sep 2025

Study maps gene activity across pregnancy breastfeeding and post-weaning stages

In a study in mice, researchers have identified genes associated with the dramatic transformation of the mammary gland in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and after breastfeeding as it returns to its resting state.

9 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

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

Babies fed blueberries show fewer allergy symptoms and boosted immune balance

Daily blueberry powder given to infants during complementary feeding modestly influenced allergic symptom resolution and shaped immune biomarker–microbiota associations. Findings suggest early diet may play a role in immune development, though results are preliminary and exploratory.

31 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria in mothers and newborns may shape infants’ risk of early respiratory infections

Finnish researchers found that differences in maternal and infant gut microbiota during the first weeks of life were linked to the risk of respiratory tract infections in the first six months. Specific bacteria, including butyrate producers and opportunistic pathogens, may shape early infection susceptibility.

21 Aug 2025

High-dose vitamin D in pregnancy likely cuts childhood wheeze risk, but infant supplements fall short

A Cochrane review of 18 randomized trials found that high-dose vitamin D during pregnancy likely reduces the risk of childhood wheeze, a key early symptom of asthma. However, vitamin D supplementation in infants and young children showed uncertain benefits for asthma prevention.

13 Aug 2025

Love hormone oxytocin found to be critical for the formation of friendships

A new UC Berkeley study shows that the so-called love hormone, oxytocin, is also critical for the formation of friendships.

12 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

Single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer lasting protection against HIV

A new study in Nature shows that delivering a single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer years-long protection against HIV, tapping into a critical window in early life that could reshape the fight against pediatric infections in high-risk regions.

30 Jul 2025