Breastfeeding Research January-June 2024

(C-reactive protein: see article below) 

 

Variation in maternal lactation practices associated with changes in diurnal maternal inflammation

Very novel study looking at feeding practices and their impact on maternal immune responses. They found that women who did not feed their baby directly at the breast at all and women who always fed at the breast had opposing C-reactive protein secretion patterns. This protein increases when there is inflammation in the body.

Direct breastfeeding frequency of late preterm and term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit and availability of mother’s own milk at six months of age. a retrospective cohort study

This study found that the number of direct breastfeeding attempts while an infant was in the NICU was significantly associated with breastfeeding at six months of age.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration and Risk of Childhood Cancers

This study did find an association between longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding and reduced risk of several childhood cancers.

Health and economic benefits of breastfeeding quantified

This Scottish study found that breastfed infants were less likely to use healthcare services and incurred lower healthcare costs.

The role of breastfeeding and formula feeding regarding depressive symptoms and an impaired mother child bonding

This study looked at feeding practices and depression and mother child bonding. They found two positive associations: 1) prenatal depression and formula feeding, and 2) impaired mother child bonding and mixed feeding

Infant gut microbes have their own circadian rhythm, and diet has little impact on how the microbiome assembles

The study did not find any differences between the growth of infants or the diversity of infants’ microbiomes. However, there was a significant difference between formula fed and breastfed babies’ gut metabolite profile. This can have a huge impact on metabolic priming and downstream effects. The study also found that the microbes in all the babies’ guts developed a circadian rhythm regardless of feeding practice. 

Written by Gina Peterson