Monday, May 30, 2005

The anatomy of Human Breast

Peter Hartmann is a professor at the University of Western Australia, and director of the Human Lactation Research group. They have done some amazing work which has resulted in a rethinking of breast anatomy.

Previous diagrams of breast anatomy were based on work dating back to the mid-1800's, when the breasts of lactating cadavers were injected with hot wax and the internal structure was subsequently mapped. Hartmann's group, however, has used ultrasound to map the lactating breast, and has discovered the anatomy to be entirely different.

click to view....

Breastfeeding is as good for children's blood pressure as exercise and dietary salt restriction

Breastfeeding is as good for children's blood pressure as exercise and dietary salt restriction, according to research from Bristol University published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. The longer the period of breastfeeding, the lower the blood pressure reading, the research found.


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Breast is Best for Matilda

Alison Barrett's gone public recently on the kind of intimate detail which women tend to keep to themselves.

She's still breastfeeding her youngest child Matilda, who is nearly five years old. It's no big deal, she says.

"Matilda is getting one feed a day, just a little bit of reassurance. It's the longest I've fed any of my children."

Barrett is almost as surprised as anyone about the length of time. She certainly didn't plan to set any kind of record.

Laziness on her part might have something to do with it, she thinks, plus she and Matilda both enjoy it. And there is also the huge volume of international research that supports both the medical and psychological value of extended breastfeeding.



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People's Daily Online -- Half of China's newborns fed with infant formula powder

China's breast feeding rates are 48.7 percent and 60.4 percent respectively in urban and rural areas, indicating that about half of the country's newborns are fed with artificial-formula milk powder of various kinds, an official on children's food safety said.



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Saturday, May 28, 2005

Study to focus on baby milk

WANTED: 100 NEW mums to take part in a ground- breaking study to find out how pain-relief medication impacts on breast milk and the baby who feeds on it.

The study, to be undertaken by the North- West Medical Research Fund, is the first in the world of its scale.

And researchers hope it will provide the evidence needed to ensure current post-caesarean treatments are in the best interests of both mother and baby.


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Friday, May 27, 2005

Look for Breastfeeding Tent at Bread and Honey Festival

(Brampton) - Looking for a shaded, comfortable place to breastfeed while at an outdoor event this summer? Peel Public Health has got you covered at the Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival on June 4 and 5, 2005.

The tent is staffed by a Public Health Nurse and a volunteer who are available to provide consultation and information. Mothers will be able to access the tent all day to nurse their babies and keep themselves hydrated with the complimentary water provided.

"We're pleased to enable moms to go out and enjoy events knowing they'll have a comfortable place to nurse their babies as well as access to a skilled Public Health Nurse to answer their questions," says Dr. Howard Shapiro, Acting Medical Officer of Health.


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Change room for MP babies

MP and mum-to-be Kirstie Marshall will be able to use a new baby-changing and feeding room in Parliament after she gives birth to her second child in July.

Two years after Ms Marshall was thrown out of Parliament for breastfeeding her newborn daughter, she will finally be able to enjoy the privacy of a baby room.
But plans for a nursery at Parliament have yet to go ahead, despite Victoria Premier Steve Bracks saying in February 2003 that discussions were taking place to set up a creche.

Speaker Judy Maddigan said a new baby changing room, in a soon-to-be disused gym on the first floor, would be available for use by both MPs and visitors within the next fortnight.

Ms Maddigan announced in April 2003, weeks after Ms Marshall unwittingly became a champion for women's breastfeeding rights, that she wanted to set up a breastfeeding room.


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Action Alert - Nurse-In at "The View"

Those of you who have seen the TV show "The View" are certainly aware of their history of bashing breastfeeding. The hosts of the show have made numerous negative comments over the years. The most recent incident has led for members of the breastfeeding activist community to call for a nurse-in.

Where: Monday, June 6th, 2005, at 11 a.m.
Where: ABC Studios, New York City - meet at the corner of Columbus Avenue and 67th Street

Aomg other incidents: Barbara Walters has repeatedly denigrated mothers who nurse their babies in public, and states that millions of babies have been raised on formula and they're just fine, implying that breastfeeding advocates are ill-informed. Elisabeth Hasselbeck claimed to have been harrassed at Disney by sling-wearing La Leche League leaders while pregnant with her child, which led to all the hosts bashing breastfeeding advocates (and which also led to a response from LLL, which was not pleased to have been slandered) as nuts. The final straw? On yesterday's show, the hosts made "a big announcement" - Elisabeth's month old baby has been put onto formula, which was applauded as a huge, wonderful, happy milestone.

"The View" has made it clear that they regard breastfeeding parents with contempt. Spread the word on the nurse-in - let them know that enough is enough.

Welcome

Welcome to my Human Lactation Information blog. I have been maintaining a similar journal for the past two years over at LiveJournal.com, but feel that a blog is a better medium for my purposes.

I am a breastfeeding counselor, and my ultimate goal is to become an IBCLC and RN. This is where I note research, articles, links and advocacy items for my own personal reference and use.