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Awareness weeks guide

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week

1-7 August 2024

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) coordinates the global World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) campaign that aims to inform, anchor, engage and galvanise action on breastfeeding and related issues. The theme for 2024 is a focus on survival, health and wellbeing. It will showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society with a special focus on breastfeeding in times of emergencies and crises. World Breastfeeding Action

UpToDate

General

Medication

Preterm infant

Cochrane Library

Online resources

Reports

Articles

Education and support

Research

Treatment

E-books

E-journals

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Articles

Education and support

Providing effective evidence based support for breastfeeding women in primary care
What you need to know

  • Many mothers do not find breastfeeding as easy as they expect and may have concerns or encounter challenges. For most breastfeeding women, challenges can be resolved with early, sensitive, skilled help
  • Mothers often have concerns about their breast milk supply being adequate, but few have true milk insufficiency. Encourage them to boost and maintain their supply by breastfeeding in response to their baby’s feeding cues
  • Infant crying can be distressing and parents may be tempted to attribute this to gastrointestinal problems such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or cow’s milk allergy, but these conditions are rare (<5%); support women by listening carefully to their concerns and carry out a full assessment in accordance with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
  • Remote breastfeeding support is best used to complement rather than replace face-to-face support

BMJ 1 November 2021

Role of healthcare providers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding in public health facilities
This study examines the role of healthcare providers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding within public health facilities, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to analyze a dataset of 300 mothers. Quantitative analysis revealed a high breastfeeding initiation rate (78.33%) and a notable rate of exclusive breastfeeding the time of discharge (67%). However, an average duration of exclusive breastfeeding (3.52 months) fell short of the recommended six months. Linear regression showed a minimal negative impact of healthcare provider strategy scores on exclusive breastfeeding duration, while ANOVA indicated no significant differences in breastfeeding outcomes across facilities. The findings underscore the critical influence of healthcare providers in the initiation and early continuation of exclusive breastfeeding but highlight a gap in sustaining it for the recommended duration. The study suggests a need for revising breastfeeding support strategies to enhance their long-term effectiveness and recommends further training and resources for healthcare providers to overcome identified challenges.  Obstetrics and gynaecology forum 13 July 2024

Breastfeeding – a survey of fathers’ support needs and preferred sources of information
Breastfeeding information to enhance fathers’ knowledge and awareness of common breastfeeding challenges, and fathers’ role in supporting their breastfeeding partner, appear to be (most) important for fathers. Mobile app appears to be among the most preferred non-health professional ways to provide breastfeeding information to fathers. International breastfeeding journal 17 July 2024

Mothers’ experiences and perceptions of breastfeeding peer support: a qualitative systematic review
Mothers perceived that peer support had a positive impact on breastfeeding. To improve the effectiveness of peer support in promoting breastfeeding, it is important to consider the individual needs of each mother. It is recommended that peer support services should be standardized in the future, including the accreditation, training, supervision, and management of peer supporters. International breastfeeding journal 19 January 2024

Promoting breastfeeding in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in high-income settings: an integrative review
Breastfeeding education and support need to be tailored to recognise the individual needs and challenges of women with a history of GDM. Interventions, including the introduction of commercial milk formula (CMF) may have an even greater impact and needs to be very carefully considered. Supportive strategies should encompass the immediate and extended family who are major sources of influence. International breastfeeding journal 18 January 2024

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Research

Exclusive breastfeeding duration and risk of childhood cancers
In this cohort study, longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with reduced risk of childhood BCP-ALL, corroborating results of previous case-control investigations in this field. To inform future pre-emptive interventions, continued research should focus on the potential biologic mechanisms underlying the observed association. JAMA 26 March 2024

Relaxation therapy and human milk feeding outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that provision of relaxation was associated with an increase in human milk quantity and infant weight gain and a slight reduction in stress and anxiety. Relaxation interventions can be offered to lactating parents who would like to increase well-being and improve milk supply or, where directly breastfeeding, increase infant weight gain. JAMA 6 May 2024

Incidence and risk factors associated with human mastitis
Highlights

  • Human mastitis, a common condition caused by improper breastfeeding technique, is an infection that primarily affects the mammary glands of females during the puerperium.
  • Various pathogens are involved in causing infection.
  • Granulomatous mastitis is associated with risk of breast cancer.
  • Proper Management and treatment are very necessary to control the infection.
  • Herbal therapy could be the great option for the treatment of mastitis.

Health sciences review 5 July 2024

Infant feeding experiences among Indigenous communities in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Aotearoa: a scoping review of the qualitative literature
This review highlights key influencers of Indigenous caregivers’ infant feeding experiences, which are often situated within complex social and environmental contexts with the role of family and culture as essential in supporting caregivers. There is a need for long-term follow-up studies that partner with communities to support sustainable policy and program changes that support infant and maternal health. BMC public health 13 June 2024

Investigating midwives and nurses reporting of ‘infant feeding at hospital discharge’: an online survey across NSW Australia
This study identified multiple practice inconsistencies within New South Wales reporting of ‘infant feeding at hospital discharge’. This has ramifications for key health statistics, state reporting, and national benchmarking. While the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative accreditation requires hospitals to demonstrate and continuously monitor at least a 75% exclusive breastfeeding rate on discharge, only 11 New South Wales facilities have achieved this accreditation. We recommend introducing an option to collect ‘exclusive breastfeeding’ on discharge’ which is in line with participant recommendations and the Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation. Other important considerations are the updated World Health Organization indicators such as, “Ever breastfed”; “Early initiation of breastfeeding” (first hour); “Exclusively breastfed for the first two days after birth”. International breastfeeding journal 23 April 2024

Meta analysis: Effect of exclusive breastfeeding on child’s development
Breast milk contains enough nutritional content for infants aged 0 to 6 months even without additional food. Exclusive breastfeeding has a positive impact on growth and development disorders experienced by babies. This study aimed to analyze and estimate the effect size of exclusive breastfeeding  on  5  areas  of  child  development,  namely  gross  motor,  fine  motor,  communication, problem solving and personal social. Journal of maternal and child health 16 January 2024

Comparing breastfeeding outcomes of Australian women who birth by elective and non-elective Caesarean Section
The study findings indicate that Australian women who give birth by non-elective lower uterine segment caesarean section (NELUSCS) are more likely to experience breastfeeding challenges, with higher rates of infant formula supplementation and a more painful recovery in the days and weeks after birth. In light of the higher postpartum pain scores and lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding, women who birth by NELUSCS need additional postpartum support. Proceedings 9 January 2024

Parental smoking in the first two years of a child's life and its associations with breastfeeding
Smoking parents are less likely to breastfeed their babies at ages six and 12 months. Breastfeeding promotion should target both smoking mothers and smoking partners. Australian and New Zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 18 July 2023

Human milk microbiome: associations with maternal diet and infant growth
Collectively, these findings provide important evidence of the potential influence of maternal diet on the early-life growth of breastfed infants via modulation of the human milk microbiome (HMM). Frontiers in nutrition 1 March 2024

The association of breast feeding for at least six months with hemodynamic and metabolic health of women and their children aged three years: an observational cohort study
Breastfeeding for at least six months may reduce some maternal; cardiovascular risk factors in women at three years postpartum, in particular, in those who have experienced a complication of pregnancy. International breastfeeding journal 19 July 2024

Publicly available Australian hospital data on infant feeding: A review and comparative analysis of outcomes
Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) accreditation can be beneficial in decreasing the rates of commercial milk formula use. Consistent reinforcement of BFHI principles and implementation in both private and public hospitals is required. Regular state monitoring and national dissemination of aggregated data collected using standardised breastfeeding indicators is also essential. Women and birth 16 July 2024

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Treatment

Trends in clinical management of lactational mastitis among women attending Australian general practice: a national longitudinal study using MedicineInsight, 2011–2022
Australian general practitioners commonly prescribe oral antibiotics to women with mastitis and largely in line with clinical guidelines. Their use of clinical investigations as part of mastitis management has increased over the last decade. BMJ open 20 May 2024

Navigating breastfeeding through cancer treatment
What you need to know

  • When treating a new mother, consider the needs of the mother and baby as a whole, including breastfeeding support
  • The breastfeeding network drug fact sheet offers advice for breastfeeding in relation to treatments and investigations
  • If a mother has recently stopped breastfeeding, check that any medications you prescribe do not promote lactation

BMJ 8 July 2024

Management of epilepsy during pregnancy and lactation
Though many antiseizure medications are present in breast milk, lactation does not appear to confer any measurable long term risks for the child, and so should be encouraged. BMJ 8 September 2023

Maternal metabolic conditions as predictors of breastfeeding outcomes: Insights from an Australian cohort study
Results showed no significant association between specific maternal metabolic diagnoses (pre-gestational or gestational diabetes, or polycystic ovary syndrome) and breastfeeding outcomes. However, maternal body mass index emerged as a key predictor of suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes. Maternal obesity, rather than any specific maternal metabolic condition, appears to be a key predictor of breastfeeding outcomes in Australian women. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 7 May 2024

General practitioners’ management of mastitis in breastfeeding women: a mixed method study in Australia
Prescribing antibiotics for mastitis remains central to Australian GPs’ management of mastitis. Interview data clarified that GPs were aware that antibiotics might not be needed in all cases of mastitis and that delayed prescribing was not uncommon. Overall, GPs followed principles of antibiotic stewardship, however there is a need to train GPs about when to consider ordering investigations. BMC primary care 10 May 2024

The association between intrapartum interventions and immediate and ongoing breastfeeding outcomes: an Australian retrospective population-based cohort study
Common intrapartum interventions are associated with less favourable breastfeeding outcomes, both in hospital and in the months after birth. This confirms the importance of only undertaking interventions when necessary. When interventions are used intrapartum, an assessment and identification of women at increased risk of early discontinuation of breastfeeding has to be performed. Targeted breastfeeding support for women who have intrapartum interventions, when they wish to breastfeed, is important. International breastfeeding journal 5 July 2022

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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E-Journals

A sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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