Sunday, April 03, 2005

Baby - Premature: Lactation program increases rate of breastfeeding at Pregnancy & Baby
Lactation program increases rate of breastfeeding
Pregnancy and Baby
"A lactation program targeting mothers of very low birth weight babies (VLBWB) can be successful in raising the rate of breastfeeding among this group. Mother's milk is well documented to be the optimal source of nutrition for newborn babies; however, mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies (those who weigh less than 1,500 grams -- approximately 3.3 pounds) are among the least likely groups to initiate and sustain lactation. Now, a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing shows that a lactation program targeting mothers of very low birth weight babies (VLBWB) can be successful in raising the rate of breastfeeding among this group. The Mother's Milk Club at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago is a lactation program that helps mothers whose children are cared for in the Rush neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). All mothers have access to the support and educational components in the program, and special services have been implemented to address the unique needs of low-income women with VLBW infants. Additionally, the women are invited to return to weekly luncheon meetings for continued lactation assistance after they are discharged from the hospital..."
Growth factor in baby formula could reduce necrotizing enterocolitis, most devastating GI disease in preemies:
Growth factor in baby formula could reduce necrotizing enterocolitis, most devastating GI disease in preemies
03 Apr 2005
Medical News Today
"Could it be that the most widespread and devastating gastrointestinal disease affecting premature babies could be conquered simply by adding a common polypeptide, epidermal growth factor (EGF), to infant formula? And if so, exactly how does it work, and why? Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) affects some 10,000 infants annually in the U.S., and over 90% are formula-fed before onset of NEC. At greatest risk are small, premature infants, and infants fed concentrated formulas. Estimates of mortality vary widely, up to 40%. International rates of incidence and mortality are thought to be similar. Although there is no effective treatment, the incidence of NEC among formula-fed babies is estimated at six to 10 times higher than breast-fed babies, indicating important direct benefits of mother's milk..."
Daily Times - Site Edition
Woman breastfeeding tiger cubs in Myanmar
"A lactating woman in Myanmar has volunteered to breastfeed a pair of endangered Bengal tiger cubs recently born at a Yangon zoo and separated from their aggressive mother, the Myanmar Times reported.
The two week-old cubs, a male and a female, were taken from their mother Noah Noah after she killed the third cub in her litter, prompting veterinarians to engage in alternative childcare, the semi-official weekly reported in its edition to be published. Hla Htay, 40, a relative of a Yangon Zoological Gardens staffer and a mother of three including a seven-month-old baby, stepped in when she learned the cubs needed breast milk to survive. “I felt sorry for them so I decided to feed them before their teeth grow,” she told the newspaper..."
KLTV 7 Tyler-Longview-Jacksonville, TX: Baby formula among growing criminal cargo traveling by interstate
"CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Officers expect to find marijuana or cocaine being smuggled over interstate highways. But increasingly they are finding an unexpected illegal cargo: stolen baby formula. Federal agents say the profits from this trade are funding organized crime. In some cases, the operations are suspected of supporting terrorist groups..."