Breastfeeding News and Research

Latest Breastfeeding News and Research

Surgeon General issues 'Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding'

Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin on Jan. 20 will issue "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding," which outlines evidence-based steps that all sectors of a community can take to remove obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed their babies.

19 Jan 2011

Researchers look at potential benefits, risks of exclusive breastfeeding during first 6 months of life

A review of existing studies on breastfeeding, published Thursday online in BMJ (British Medical Journal), suggests some findings that contradict the WHO's 2001 recommendation that mothers "exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their infants' lives," Nature News reports (Gilbert, 1/14). Researchers who conducted the most recent review "said babies fed only breast milk could suffer iron deficiency and may be more prone to allergies" and they said mothers could stop breastfeeding as early as four months, Agence France-Presse writes.

19 Jan 2011

Infant macrosomia is a risk factor for postneonatal death among First Nations

High birth weight in First Nations babies are linked to a higher risk of postneonatal death, according to a study published in CMAJ.

18 Jan 2011

Lightning Process training course tops in survey by ME/ CFS

A revolutionary self training course has emerged top in a survey conducted by the Sussex and Kent ME/ CFS Society.

12 Jan 2011

AlertNet features 20 low-cost ideas that could improve health, reduce poverty

AlertNet posed health, technology, water and other experts questions, such as, "[w]hat cheap, low-tech innovations could be used to improve the lives of the poor? Which potentially life-saving ideas have been knocking around for years but still aren't widely practised?"

11 Jan 2011

Study shows adolescents who were breastfed at birth have stronger leg muscles

Breast feeding new born babies has lots of advantages in the short and in the long-term for babies. A study has confirmed the recently discovered benefits, which had not been researched until now. Adolescents who are breast fed at birth have stronger leg muscles than those who received artificial milk.

5 Jan 2011

FDA approves Endo's FORTESTA Gel for low testosterone

Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved FORTESTA Gel for the treatment of low testosterone, or 'Low T,' also known as hypogonadism. Symptoms associated with Low T include erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual desire, fatigue and loss of energy, mood depression, regression of secondary sexual characteristics and osteoporosis.

29 Dec 2010

New findings reveal long-term influences of infant formula composition

New findings from the Monell Center reveal that weight gain of formula-fed infants is influenced by the type of formula the infant is consuming. The findings have implications related to the infant's risk for the development of obesity, diabetes and other diseases later in life.

27 Dec 2010

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

A report (.pdf), released Wednesday, on breastfeeding practices in 33 countries found that out of 78 million infants born each year, about 42 million do not receive an optimal amount of breastfeeding, IANS/Sify News reports (12/22).

24 Dec 2010

Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles and San Diego Medical Centers achieve Baby-Friendly status

Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) announced today that the Los Angeles and San Diego Medical Centers have received a prestigious recognition from Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., a non-profit organization that implements the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States. With this month's two designations joining Fontana, Downey and Riverside, KPSC now has five medical centers with Baby-Friendly status, a notable achievement, given that this certification has been granted to only 102 facilities in the United States, 33 of which are in California.

22 Dec 2010

Takeda completes settlements in patent litigation over generic ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact ANDAs

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") today announced that Takeda and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. ("TPNA"), have completed settlements with all defendants in patent litigation brought against the companies in response to their Abbreviated New Drug Applications ("ANDAs") for generic ACTOS® (pioglitazone HCl), ACTOplus met® (pioglitazone HCl and metformin HCl), and duetact® (pioglitazone HCl and glimepiride).

22 Dec 2010

Pregnant women veterans face increase risk of mental health problems

Pregnancy among women veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan appears to increase their risk for mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper is available free online.

22 Dec 2010

Breast feed for smarter kids

A news study published in the journal Pediatrics this Monday shows that babies who are breastfed for longer than six months may reap he benefits of having better brain function right into school. The benefit may be particularly so in boys.

21 Dec 2010

Affordable Care Act provisions will increase breastfeeding among working mothers

Millions of working mothers were not able to express breast milk while at work until the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The law requires employers to provide nursing breaks and a private, sanitary place to express breast milk for most mothers employed on an hourly basis. The ACA provisions for breastfeeding cover three-fifths of employed women living in families below 350 percent of the government poverty line (about $50,000 for a family of two).

16 Dec 2010

Vented bottles prevent nutrient loss in breast milk and infant formula

A recently published University of Nevada study indicates that both breast milk and infant formula should be protected from the air to reduce the impact of oxidation on essential nutrients, including vitamins A and E. An earlier phase of the study showed similar impacts on Vitamin C.

14 Dec 2010

Research looks at early exposure to mobile phone risk

There has been plenty of speculation that mobile phones are not good for pregnant mums but a new study sheds light on the actual connection. It finds that pregnant women who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have children with behavioral problems, particularly if their children start using mobile phones in their first seven years. American researchers said that the risk of behavioral problems rose by 30% if such exposure was present. Those exposed before birth and in early childhood were at 50% higher risk than those who were not exposed they said.

9 Dec 2010

Study comparing subcutaneous, intravenous administration of VELCADE in relapsed MM patients presented at ASH

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today reported results from a randomized, international Phase III clinical trial comparing subcutaneous and intravenous administration of VELCADE (bortezomib) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. These data were presented at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held December 4-7 in Orlando, Florida.

8 Dec 2010

Mobile phones use during pregnancy linked to behavioural problems in kids: Study

A new study finds that pregnant mums who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have children with behavioral problems, especially if these kids themselves start using mobile phones in their first seven years.

7 Dec 2010

Healthy People 2020 targets barriers to breastfeeding

For the first time, the barriers to breastfeeding are being addressed at the highest level of government. With the release today of Healthy People 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has targeted the new 10-year goals for our nation's health - and supporting breastfeeding is prominent among them.

4 Dec 2010

Project Prevention feels it is crucial to educate HIV/AIDS positive women on long term birth control

ON THIS "WORLDS AIDS DAY" we know many things will be discussed, but we're sure birth control will not be one of them. Project Prevention feels it is crucial to not just work towards curing infants with AIDS, but also to work on getting women living with HIV/AIDS on long term birth control to prevent future pregnancies that may result in suffering children.

2 Dec 2010