HMHB has several goals this year to do just that.

1.Public awareness of  best practices in maternity care.

2. Legislation that would protect and provide support for all mothers as they return to work through break time for pumping human milk for their infants.

3. Legislation that would provide access to care for breastfeeding moms to licensed professionals.

Show your support for these efforts in honor of your mother and mothers everywhere.

The Texas Ten Step  program is working with hospitals across the state to make their policies more breastfeeding friendly, increase breastfeeding rates, and help them to become certified as baby friendly hospitals.  Each step makes a difference and research has shown that those hospitals that practice 6 of the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding have 10 times the moms breastfeeding for at least 6 weeks (DiGirolamo et al., 2008). 

Those 10 steps if you’re wondering are:

10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as interpreted by Baby-Friendly, USA:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth. Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour. Encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to breastfeed and offer help if needed.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice “rooming in” — allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand. Teach mothers cue-based feeding regardless of feeding method.
9. Give no artificial nipples or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Take notice that the action taken by this hospital is not listed as one of those 10 steps.  this is simply another recognised procedures that can keep mom and baby away from one another  and interfere with the natural progression that happens in those crucial first hours after the baby has been welcomed into this world.  I challenge you to think of other simple things that can be done that will bring about better outcomes, not only in breastfeeding but health outcomes

Abstract: Effect of Delaying the Bath on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates

Background: The standard of care at our institution has been to give the newborn bath at 2 to 4 hours of life. In May 2010, we began to delay the bath for at least 12 hours of life as standard of care for all eligible infants.

Objective: To determine if delaying the newborn bath correlated with a change in exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Methods: We compared exclusive breastfeeding rates 6 months before and after the start of the Delay the Bath Initiative. The medical record of every third eligible-to-breastfeed infant admitted to the newborn service during this 12-month period was reviewed. Infant feeding information was obtained from the 24-hour bedside flow sheet. Feeds for the entire hospital stay were tallied and each infant was categorized into one of 7 tiers by percentage of breastfeeds received (100%, 90-<100, 75-<90, 50-<75, 25-<50, 1-<25 and 0).

Results: We reviewed 718 infant charts. Infant (gestational age) and maternal characteristics (mode of birth, race, age, health insurance) were similar before and after delaying the bath. Exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 31.4% (111/353) to 40% (146/365) (p=.02) during the time period studied.

Conclusions: We found that delaying the bath was associated with a statistically significant increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates. We hypothesize that this may be due to limiting stress during the critical period following delivery when the newborn’s blood sugar normally nadirs and the infant is striving to maintain temperature regulation. Delaying the bath is a simple intervention that may support improved exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Funding Sources: Transforming Birth Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Trust.

Breastfeeding Medicine. October 2011, 6(S1): S-1-S-24. doi:10.1089/bfm.2011.9985.

An interesting conversation is underway regarding a new law passed in Indonesia which penalizes anyone standing in the way of a mother breastfeeding her child for at least the first 6 months.  While I think that this law will be extremely difficult to enforce and even as a breastfeeding advocate I think it’s a little over the top, it does send a strong message that breastfeeding is a public health issue and all moms should have the unobstructed opportunity to give their babies human milk.  Read the article and tell us what you think. 

Since 2009, Indonesia has had a law promoting exclusive breastfeeding, but it was recently strengthened. Anyone who stands in the way of a mother nursing her baby for the first six months of life — an employer, for example, or a relative — is subject to a year behind bars and $11,000 in fines. What’s more, the law bars formula manufacturers from advertising to mothers of babies who have yet to reach their first birthday.

According to PBS Newshour, Indonesia hopes that its legislation will slash mortality rates for children under 5:

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/01/what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-indonesia-about-breastfeeding/#ixzz1lO5JydAn

Super Bowl Sunday—February 5, 2012 ·       

 Here are a few Super Bowl facts to get you in the mood.

50% of Americans watch the Super Bowl

14.5 tons of chips will be eaten during the Super Bow

l6% of Americans will call in sick on the day after the Super Bowl

Antacid sales increase 20% the day after the Super Bowl

This year, advertisers are paying $116,666.66 per second of advertising during the Super Bowl

Wouldn’t it be nice if just one of those ads was promoting breastfeeding? 

Action 2 from the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding is to “develop programs to educate fathers and grandmothers about breastfeeding”.  We could educate most dads with one Super Bowl ad—I’m just saying.  But—there is one super exciting thing happening at this Super Bowl that has never before happened at a Super Bowl (and this is the 46th Super Bowl).  There is going to be a Lactation Room for moms to pump and/or breastfeed.  HOW AWESOME!!!  Read all about it here–  http://indianastands.org/2012/01/31/super-lactation-station/  That’s progress people!!

Post by Amy Brandes

A recent article in Pediatrics estimates that we would save 13 Billion dollars a year in healthcare costs if 90% of mothers would follow recomendations to exclusively breastfeed their infants for just 6 months?  See the full article here.  All the info as well as a link to send a message to your representative are listed below.

On August 1, 2011, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 in both houses of Congress.

the Reasonable break time for nursing mothers amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) passed in 2010 made great strides in protecting breastfeeding mothers across the nation.  But, it only covers non-exempt employees.

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 (H.R. 2758, S. 1463)  will cover the remaining portion of our working mothers including teachers, nurses, managerial positions, and other professionals that can not claim overtime when working more than 40 hrs a week.  Please call your representative and show your support for these working mothers trying to give their babies human milk to support optimal growth and development. 

This bill

1. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace.
2. Protects executive, administrative, and professional employees in addition to non-exempt employees to have break time and a private place to pump in the workplace.

Read full text of S. 1463 or check status

Read the full text of H.R. 2758 or check status

The Unites States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has a letter of support that you can easily sign and send to your representative  Click Here to read and sign this letter of support.

In 2007 researchers in Australia found an interesting component in breastmilk that looked like stem cells.  The big question has been wheather or not the act like stem cells and have the ability to differentiate.  The answer to that question has recently been confirmed with a resounding yes.  This new development in the research of human milk has far reaching implications.  There are so many other ingredients in human milk that can not possibly be replicated and mass produced for commercial formula including: SIgA, IgM, IgE, T cell and B cell Lymphocytes, Lactoferrin, Lysozyme, Human Alpha lactalbumin (which actually has a great acronym describing its important attributes: HAMLET – Human Alpha lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor cells) over 150 LCPUFAs (Long Chain Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids) 2 of which are DHA and ARA.  Even with all of these ingredients known and well documented, many new moms exposed to the advertising of infant formula have the perception that breastmilk and formula are equal.  The health claims on formula cans tout immunological benefits with “ingredients naturally found in breastmilk”.  What they are referring to is either pre biotics or pro biotics recently added.  This new discovery in breastmilk is just one more addition to the long list of amazing ingredients in human milk that will hopefully give moms more confidence that the product that their body naturally makes is spectacular and can not be replicated by any pharmaceutical company.  You are a Super Mom, and you truly make a Super Human Milk!

BAAR, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – The theory developed in 2007 by scientists at the University of Western Australia (UWA) that breastmilk contains stem cells has been taken to a higher level with the latest discovery by one of the team’s newer members.  UWA Ph.D. candidate Foteini Hassiotou has proven that stem cells from breastmilk can now be directed to become other body cell types such as bone, fat, liver and brain cells. Could this finally be the answer to ethically and easily obtaining pluripotent stem cells in a non-invasive manner? And what does this mean with regard to the unique power of breastmilk for the growth and development of babies?

Stem Cells in Breastmilk – Theory Becomes Reality

Following  Hassiotou’s  recent win of the 2011 AusBiotech-GSK Student Excellence Award for her research into breastmilk stem cells (Oct.17, 2011), Medela is proud to announce Hassiotou’s first presentation of her findings of stem cells in breastmilk in Europe early next year. She will share her findings during Medela’s 7th International Breastfeeding and Lactation Symposium to be held in Vienna, Austria from  April 20-21, 2012.

This discovery by Hassiotou, who is part of the Human Lactation Research Group under the direction of Professor Peter Hartmann at the University of Western Australia, may well be the answer to ethically and easily obtaining stem cells in a non-invasive manner. The value in harvesting stem cells from breastmilk lies in their incredible potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They have the ability to act as a type of “internal repair system.” With both types of stem cells (embryonic and adult), however, well-documented hurdles exist both from an ethical as well as from a practical harvesting perspective….

“It is great to see the biology of breastmilk stem cells unfold and to be able to demonstrate new findings that take our knowledge a step further. Through the financial support of Medela it has been possible for me to conduct this research, which shows for yet another reason why breastmilk is so much more than nutrition for the baby,” said Hassiotou. “In addition, it is becoming clear that breastmilk can serve as an ethical, non-invasive and plentiful source for human stem cells—but a lot of questions still remain unanswered, especially about the function of these cells in the breastfed baby. I feel proud to be part of this exciting journey of discovery, and I plan to continue this research at The University of Western Australia.”

(From i09.com)

In particular, these breast milk stem cells can develop into any of the three embryonic germ layers, known as the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. In embryonic stem cells, it’s from these three layers that the cells can then develop into any of the 220 different cell types found in the body. This quality, known as pluripotency, is what makes embryonic stem cells specifically so powerful as a tool in regenerative medicine.

Now it seems that breast milk stem cells could be just as pluripotent as their embryonic counterparts, with few to none of the ethical concerns that have engulfed the use of embryonic stem cells. Team member Foteini Hassiotou comments:

“They can become bone cells, joint cells, fat cells, pancreatic cells that produce their own insulin, liver cells that produce albumin and also neuronal cells. What is really amazing is that these cells can be obtained in quite large amounts in breast milk.”

This is all exciting news, but there is room for some skepticism here. The key test hasn’t happened yet — and that’s to inject these breast milk stem cells into mice to see whether they develop teratomas, which are tumors that feature tissue from all three embryonic germ layers. If the researchers can find that, then we really will have an adult-derived stem cell that is every bit as versatile and potent as embryonic stem cells. Such a breakthrough might not kill the stem cell debate entirely, but it would take a lot of the wind out the sails of the opponents of such research.

Assuming this research holds up, one other question to explore will be just why breast milk unexpectedly contains such pluripotent stem cells. Hassitou speculates:

“It has been shown in mice that live immune cells in breast milk pass through the intestinal mucosa into the blood circulation of the pups and engraft in various tissues. If these cells are in human milk and in such high amounts they probably have a role. They might contribute to tissue regeneration and development of the baby or play certain roles if there is a disease.”

 Some of the other winners include:

Best Midwife: (Tie)  Mary Barnett and Brielle Epstein

Best Birth Doula:  (Tie) Shelley Scotka and Emily Bessey

Best Post Partum Doula:  Allison Coleman

Best Birth Center:   Austin Area Birthing Center

Best Hospital Materinty Care:   North Austin Medical Center

Best Pediatrition:  Elliot Trester MD

Best Breastfeeding Class:  Amy Nyland

Best Childbirth Prep Class:  Lanell Coultas

Best Accupuncturist:  Melissa Light

For a full list of the winners visit Austin Birth Awards.  Thanks to CTDA, Get Babied and GALS for a spectacular evening and thanks for highlighting those in our community that are making a diference.

French satelite captures the area affected by the wildfire

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Researchers from the University of Essex’s Institute of Social & Economic Research (ISER) and the University of Oxford have spent the past two years looking at the impact of breastfeeding on a child’s development.

They found that it can improve a child’s social mobility by boosting its IQ in later life, and reduces the likelihood of a child having behavioural difficulties at age five.

Six per cent of full-term babies breastfed for four months have these issues compared with 16 per cent of formula fed babies, the research shows.

The group is now now urging the government to act on its findings and include the importance of breastfeeding in its plan for improving social mobility.

However,a report produced by the team fails to identify exactly how and why breastfeeding in a baby’s early weeks leads to success in later life.

The document, which will be discussed at a conference at the British Academy in central London on Wednesday says: ‘Aligning breastfeeding with social mobility may seem tenuous, but a body of research shows that an individual’s behavioural and psycho-social outcomes have a significant impact on adult earnings and education,’ as reported in The Observer.

Priority: Experts say the government should target disadvantaged mothers and encourage them to breastfeed

The report goes on: ‘If research can demonstrate the extent to which positive outcomes are the result of breastfeeding, rather than from social factors, then there is a strong case for encouraging breastfeeding from an early intervention policy that can improve a child’s life chances, particularly targeting young and disadvantaged mothers.’

Health experts have said there is a large social gap in breastfeeding rates with more privileged mothers opting to breastfeed compared with the more disadvantaged, according to the policy document.

Dr Emilia Del Bono, an economist at the ISER told The Observer: ‘We need initiatives to support mothers not just to start breastfeeding, but to continue beyond the early days.

‘We know very little about the effects of breastfeeding at longer durations because so few women breastfeed for more than a few weeks.

‘It’s only when more women start breastfeeding for longer periods that we will have the data necessary to investigate.’

In the same report, a senior Liberal Democrat source said: ‘We expect the social mobility and child poverty commission to report on the progress of the indicators and to tell us whether they are the right ones.

‘The current list is a good start but it does not have to be the final word’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2047016/Disadvantaged-mothers-breastfeed-children-improve-social-mobility-experts-claim.html#ixzz1aLyTx0Eo