Breastfeeding Research: June - December 2020

(1) In the journal Nature Metabolism in June 2020: Moderate Exercise Increases a Compound in Breast Milk That Reduces the Risks of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease for the Child 

(2) In the journal International Breastfeeding Journal in July 2020: Intermittent Kangaroo Mother Care and Practice of Breastfeeding Late Preterm Infants: China

Results: Exclusive breastfeeding rates doubled at discharge and at 42 days post discharge in late preterm infants!

(3) in the journal International Breastfeeding Journal in September 2020: Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review

Conclusions: Current evidence shows that COVID-19 is not transmitted via breastfeeding, and breastfeeding may protect both mom and baby.  Skin-to-skin contact is encouraged. The benefits of breastfeeding greatly outweigh the risks.  General infection control measures should be followed.

(4) In the journal Nutrients in November 2020: Maternal Intake of Cow's Milk during Lactation is Associated with Lower Prevalence of Food Allergy in Offspring

(5) In the journal Nature in December 2020: Maternal Diet Alters Human Milk Oligosaccharide Composition with Implications for the Milk Metagenome

Results: Evidence was found that what a nursing mother eats affects the composition of the HMO (human milk oligosaccharide) in her milk which indirectly affects the microbial environment in her milk. The results of this study also have the potential to help prevent mastitis by encouraging certain beneficial microbes to become more plentiful and the mastitis causing microbes to be excluded.