Medical Xpress’ Post

Breastfeeding is more complicated than most new parents realize. Subclinical mastitis is just one of the factors that make feeding a new baby difficult. Now, a UMass team has found a way to identify it. Unlike acute mastitis, which is notable for pain, redness, swelling, and fever subclinical mastitis has no outward symptoms. Even so, patients who develop this condition are less likely to produce enough milk and may stop breastfeeding. The tell is the milk's sodium level. High levels indicate mastitis, even when other symptoms are not present. The researchers have developed a cheaper, more readily available test for these high sodium levels that could pinpoint the root cause of breastfeeding problems in cases where mastitis is being missed. Their device delivers results in three minutes, is the size of a quarter, and costs $1 per test. Previous testing required half an hour, a lab table, and typically cost $110 per test. “That’s what we want for a point-of-care test — low cost, high precision and high time efficiency,” says Jinglei Ping, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. His hopes for the device are simultaneously humble but grand: wide availability in drugstores alongside blood pressure cuffs and multivitamins. https://lnkd.in/eNmeFeHp College of Engineering, UMass Amherst #umass #umassamherst #healthcare #maternalhealth #research #health

📃Scientific paper: Breastfeeding of infants born to mothers with COVID-19: a rapid review Abstract: BACKGROUND: Existing recommendations on whether mothers with COVID-19 should continue breastfeeding are still conflicting. We aimed to conduct a rapid review of mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 during breastfeeding. METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and preprint articles up to March 2020. We included studies relevant to transmission through milk and respiratory droplets during breastfeeding of mothers with COVID-19, SARS, MERS and influenza. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 4,481 records were identified in our literature search. Six studies (five case reports and one case series) involving 58 mothers (16 mothers with COVID-19, 42 mothers with influenza) and their infants proved eligible. Five case reports showed that the viral nucleic acid tests for all thirteen collected samples of breast milk from mothers with COVID-19 were negative. A case series of 42 influenza infected postpartum mothers taking precautions (hand hygiene and wearing masks) before breastfeeding showed that no neonates were infected with influenza during one-month of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid has not been detected in breast milk. The benefits of breastfeeding may... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/lXz8 ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

📃Scientific paper: Breastfeeding of infants born to mothers with COVID-19: a rapid review Abstract: BACKGROUND: Existing recommendations on whether mothers with COVID-19 should continue breastfeeding are still conflicting. We aimed to conduct a rapid review of mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 during breastfeeding. METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and preprint articles up to March 2020. We included studies relevant to transmission through milk and respiratory droplets during breastfeeding of mothers with COVID-19, SARS, MERS and influenza. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 4,481 records were identified in our literature search. Six studies (five case reports and one case series) involving 58 mothers (16 mothers with COVID-19, 42 mothers with influenza) and their infants proved eligible. Five case reports showed that the viral nucleic acid tests for all thirteen collected samples of breast milk from mothers with COVID-19 were negative. A case series of 42 influenza infected postpartum mothers taking precautions (hand hygiene and wearing masks) before breastfeeding showed that no neonates were infected with influenza during one-month of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid has not been detected in breast milk. The benefits of breastfeeding may... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/lXz8 ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

"Breastfeeding has so many benefits that are not just short term, but long term as well, in terms of prevention of certain chronic diseases like obesity, different cancers, and diabetes" Tracie W. Kirkland, PhD, DNP, ANP-BC, PPCPNP, CPNP-BC. "Having that conversation early on, encouraging different members of different communities and background, to breastfeed, and to really ask to assess, 'what is your knowledge about breastfeeding?'" Watch the full video interview here: https://lnkd.in/dnkUK_MT

"Breastfeeding has so many benefits that are not just short term, but long term as well, in terms of prevention of certain chronic diseases like obesity, different cancers, and diabetes" Tracie W. Kirkland, PhD, DNP, ANP-BC, PPCPNP, CPNP-BC. "Having that conversation early on, encouraging different members of different communities and background, to breastfeed, and to really ask to assess, 'what is your knowledge about breastfeeding?'" Watch the full video interview here: https://lnkd.in/dnkUK_MT

📃Scientific paper: Breastfeeding of infants born to mothers with COVID-19: a rapid review Abstract: BACKGROUND: Existing recommendations on whether mothers with COVID-19 should continue breastfeeding are still conflicting. We aimed to conduct a rapid review of mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 during breastfeeding. METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and preprint articles up to March 2020. We included studies relevant to transmission through milk and respiratory droplets during breastfeeding of mothers with COVID-19, SARS, MERS and influenza. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 4,481 records were identified in our literature search. Six studies (five case reports and one case series) involving 58 mothers (16 mothers with COVID-19, 42 mothers with influenza) and their infants proved eligible. Five case reports showed that the viral nucleic acid tests for all thirteen collected samples of breast milk from mothers with COVID-19 were negative. A case series of 42 influenza infected postpartum mothers taking precautions (hand hygiene and wearing masks) before breastfeeding showed that no neonates were infected with influenza during one-month of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid has not been detected in breast milk. The benefits of breastfeeding may... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/lXz8 ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

Out of Synch - The Importance of Breastfeeding in Gut and Nasal Microbial Colonization and Child Immune Development #Mysummary These recent findings from the CHILD Cohort Study provide a comprehensive understanding of how breastfeeding influences early-life microbiome development and its association with asthma risk in children. The study used 2,227 infants from the CHILD Cohort Study, a large, multicenter cohort representing a diverse population. Key results: 🔹 Exclusive breastfeeding beyond 3 months supports a gradual and paced gut and nasal microbiota acquisition. This gradual colonization is associated with a lower risk of asthma, suggesting that breastfeeding plays a crucial role in guiding healthy immune development. 🔹 Early cessation of breastfeeding (before 3 months) accelerated the acquisition of certain microbial species and functions, including Ruminococcus gnavus. This premature colonization was associated with an increased risk of developing asthma, highlighting the importance of the timing and sequence of microbial exposure. 🔹 Combining microbiome data, breastfeeding duration, and human milk components allowed researchers to predict asthma with an impressive 93% accuracy! #Mythoughts Imagine the infant's microbiome as an orchestra preparing for a grand symphony. The gut and nasal microbiomes are like musicians waiting to play their instruments. In this setting, breastfeeding acts as the conductor, guiding each instrument (bacteria) to enter at the right moment, at the right tempo, ensuring a harmonious and well-orchestrated performance. When breastfeeding is maintained, the conductor carefully paces the introduction of each musician, allowing the orchestra to build up gradually, leading to a balanced and finely tuned symphony that plays in harmony with the infant’s developing immune system. If breastfeeding is interrupted too early, it’s as if the conductor leaves midway through the performance. The musicians start playing out of sync, some entering too soon, others at the wrong time, leading to a chaotic and disordered sound. This premature and uncoordinated performance represents the disrupted microbiome development, which increases the risk of conditions like asthma as the infant's immune system is not trained to recognize and tolerate various microbial "notes." HAPPY to hear your THOUGHTS and stay POSITIVE! #Myinspiration "Balance is not something you find, it's something you create." – Jana Kingsford Link to the paper here: https://lnkd.in/eDPUvvHZ #microbiome #science #biology #health #pharma #diet #nutrition #probiotics #therapeutics #startup #biotech

🆕 📰 Proof-of-concept study: Remote capillary blood collection for hCG analysis in early pregnancy ✍ Caroline Joyce, Paula O'Shea, Rebecca Lynch, Seán Costelloe, Tommie McCarthy, John Coulter, Deirdre Hayes-Ryan, Keelin O'Donoghue 💡 This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the clinical performance and user acceptability of capillary blood samples collected remotely, as an alternative to venous blood for hCG measurement. The study demonstrated excellent agreement between the hCG results obtained from both collection methods, suggesting that capillary blood can serve as a reliable alternative for venous hCG measurement, particularly in clinical settings requiring frequent hCG monitoring. Feedback from the study questionnaire indicates a preference for this type of follow-up among women, indicating potential improvements in compliance for blood based diagnostic tests. Read the full paper (open access): https://lnkd.in/eY7jSN9i Study funded by the Irish Research Council. More details on the Biomarkers for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Project via https://lnkd.in/eX7GgNxz INFANT Research Centre, Ireland South Women & Infants Directorate, UCC Research, University College Cork, Cork University Hospitals Group

For World Breastfeeding Week, Columbia University Irving Medical Center researcher Jasmine McDonald, PhD shares the powerful health benefits of breastfeeding.    Breastfeeding offers essential nutrients for babies and strengthens the bond between mother and child. But did you know it also provides long-term health benefits for mothers? Research shows that breastfeeding can lower the risk of breast cancer by reducing lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen, which can promote breast cancer cell growth.     If breastfeeding aligns with your family’s needs, Dr. McDonald highlights that the protective benefits build up over time: “The total time you spend breastfeeding, even split between multiple children, is what matters.”   #worldbreastfeedingweek #ColumbiaCancer #breastfeeding

If you’ve been considering not breastfeeding your new baby, you’re probably inundated with information. It’s a personal decision only you can make, but the benefits are seemingly endless. Before you decide (or if you just need reassurance that breast milk is the right choice for you), let’s go through some of the benefits to your baby 🔽🔽 ✅ Breast milk provides ideal nutrition for babies: Most healthcare professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months or much longer. However, The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding until 2 years old or longer because the benefits continue that long. ✅ Breast milk contains important antibodies: Breast milk is loaded with antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria, which is critical in those tender, early months. ✅ Breastfeeding may reduce disease risk: It may reduce your baby’s risk for many illnesses and diseases, including: diabetes, childhood leukemia, intestinal tissue damage, Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), hut infections, colds and infections, respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections. ✅ Breast milk promotes baby’s healthy weight: Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain and helps prevent childhood obesity. One study showed that breastfeeding for longer than 4 months had a significant reduction in the chances of a baby developing overweight and obesity. ✅Breastfeeding may make children smarter: Breastfeeding may help baby ace those tests. Some studies suggest there may be a difference in brain development between breastfed and formula-fed babies. This difference may be due to the physical intimacy, touch, and eye contact associated with breastfeeding as well as nutrient content. No matter what choice you make, our team @pregnancynaija can guide you to the right methods and choices. You’ve got this. https://lnkd.in/ev5Dh7m