Breastfeeding in the News Archive

April 18, 2013 – Medical News Today reports that a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that HIV-infected mothers who exclusively breastfed for more than four months had a lower risk of transmitting the virus to their babies through their milk.  In the study of 950 mothers infected with HIV in Zambia, 50% stopped breastfeeding at four months and the other 50% continued breastfeeding.  The babies were analyzed on a regular basis.  The highest HIV concentrations were found in the breastmilk of mothers who stopped breastfeeding at four months.  No differences had been noted when the milk of both groups was tested two weeks earlier.  Mothers who kept breastfeeding, but not exclusively, had higher HIV concentrations in their milk than mothers who were exclusively breastfeeding.  The researchers concluded that even subtle alterations in the frequency of breastfeeding can impact HIV concentrations in breastmilk

Feb. 18, 2013 – Scoop reports that Pakistan’s Sindh province has passed into law the “Sindh Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Bill 2013.”  It makes clear that no commercial formula company can assert that their product is a substitute, equivalent, or superior to mother’s milk.  Formula companies are required to put in bold letters on the formula can that “Mother’s milk is best for your baby and helps in preventing diarrhea and other illnesses.”

Feb. 17, 2013 – BusinessWire reports that Save the Children’s new campaign could save 830,000 babies a year.  The campaign encourages all women to breastfeed their babies immediately after birth.

Dec. 19, 2012 – NZCity reports that two babies have died from asphysia when their mothers fell asleep while breastfeeding them in the hospital.  One was a two-month-old boy who died after his mother fell asleep while breastfeeding him in the NICU parent room.  The other was a two-day-old girl who died while being breastfed by her mother in the early morning hours as she lay on a hospital bed.  Even though the nurse checked on the baby a number of times, no one realized anything was wrong with the infant until about 8:00 am.  Neither hospital had a safe sleeping policy in place.

Oct 25, 2012 – 3 News New Zealand reports that a mother breastfeeding her 18-week-old baby was asked to leave a courtroom by the judge.  Although the Human Rights Act makes it illegal for anyone to stop a mother from breastfeeding in a public space, a judge can impose their own rules in a courtroom, despite it being open to the public.  Earlier this year, a reporter was asked to leave a courtroom for wearing gold sequined pants.

Oct 18, 2012 – Science Daily reports that the Fourth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding brought together experts in maternal/child health and policymakers, with the support of an educational grant from the Kellogg Foundation. The highlights of the Summit are available in a special edition of Breastfeeding Medicine. This issue is can be viewed on the Breastfeeding Medicine website (www.liebertpub.com/bfm).