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Brown A, Griffiths C, Jones S, Weaver G, Shenker N. Disparities in being able to donate human milk impacts upon maternal wellbeing: Lessons for scaling up milk bank service provision. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024:e13699. [PMID: 38987938 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Receiving donor human milk for a baby can have a protective effect upon parental wellbeing. A growing body of research also finds that being able to donate milk to a milk bank, particularly after infant loss, can also boost maternal wellbeing through feelings of altruism and purpose. However, most studies are qualitative, with small sample sizes outside the United Kingdom, and often do not include the experiences of those who have been unable to donate. Our aim was therefore to examine the impact of being able to donate milk, as well as the impact of not being able to do so, using a survey containing open and closed questions in a large UK sample. Overall, 1149 women completed the survey, 417 (36.3%) who donated their milk and 732 (63.7%) who did not. Most women who donated found it had a positive impact upon their wellbeing, feeling proud, useful and that they had achieved something important. Conversely, those unable to donate often felt rejected, frustrated, and excluded, especially if they received no response or felt that restrictions were unfair. Thematic analysis found that being able to donate could help women heal from experiences such as birth trauma, difficult breastfeeding experiences, neonatal unit stays, and infant loss; however, being unable to donate could exacerbate negative emotions arising from similar experiences. A minority of women who donated experienced raised anxiety over following guidelines. These findings further extend the impacts of milk banking services beyond infant health and development and support expanded service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Brown
- Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation (LIFT), Swansea University, Swansea, UK
- Faculty Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Catrin Griffiths
- Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation (LIFT), Swansea University, Swansea, UK
- Faculty Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Sara Jones
- Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation (LIFT), Swansea University, Swansea, UK
- Faculty Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Natalie Shenker
- The Human Milk Foundation, Gossams End, Berkhamsted, UK
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
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dos Santos BG, Shenker N, Weaver G, Perrin MT. Donation barriers, enablers, patterns and predictors of milk bank donors in the United States and United Kingdom. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024; 20:e13652. [PMID: 38606492 PMCID: PMC11168376 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Pasteurised donor human milk is recommended for very low birthweight infants who do not have access to their mother's milk. Although the use of donor milk continues to increase, little is known about the donation experiences of milk bank donors. We aimed to describe and compare enablers, barriers and patterns of human milk donation and identify factors predicting donation volume in a convenience sample of approved milk bank donors in the United Kingdom and the United States. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from August 2022 to December 2022. Approved milk bank donors (n = 556) from three milk banks in the United States (n = 369, Mothers' Milk Bank of Florida, Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas and Northwest Mothers Milk Bank) and one milk bank in the United Kingdom (n = 187, Hearts Milk Bank) completed the survey. A substantial portion of donors in both settings reported participating in other forms of milk exchange (51% of U.S. donors vs. 39% of UK donors, p = 0.009). Top donation barriers reported in both settings were completing the serological screening and having enough space to store collected milk. Most donors started donating when their infant was 3 months old or older and reported donating mature milk. The most common source of information related to milk banking in each setting was the internet (United Kingdom-70% vs. United States - 63%, p = 0.112). Variables that predicted lifetime donation volume differed between the United States and the United Kingdom, highlighting the importance of setting-specific milk banking research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Shenker
- Human Milk FoundationRothamsted InstituteHarpendenUK
- Department of Surgery and CancerImperial College London, IRDBLondonUK
| | | | - Maryanne T. Perrin
- Department of NutritionUniversity of North Carolina GreensboroGreensboroNorth CarolinaUSA
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Anders LA, Yasin R. "At the End of the Day, My Goal is to Help People Feed Their Babies Human Milk": A Qualitative Exploration of the Pumping Attitudes of Lactation Care Providers. J Hum Lact 2023; 39:711-719. [PMID: 37675870 DOI: 10.1177/08903344231195628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents who express milk by pumping often feel this is judged as inferior to direct breastfeeding by healthcare providers, leaving parents feeling unsupported. Healthcare provider attitudes can influence decisions about human milk feeding directly at the chest. Yet, there is a gap in knowledge regarding lactation care provider attitudes about pumping. RESEARCH AIM To explore the attitudes and feelings of lactation care providers about pumping. METHOD A qualitative descriptive design was utilized. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 15 lactation care providers in the United States, recruited via social media. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Four themes emerged: (1) I Support You, (2) But It's Not the Same, (3) Frustration with Social Media, and (4) Changing Perspectives. Participants held positive attitudes toward pumping as a tool to meet human milk feeding goals. They strived to provide judgement-free support but stressed the importance of setting realistic expectations and sharing the difference in benefits and work between direct breastfeeding and pumping. Providers held negative attitudes about the portrayal of pumping on social media. The participants' perspectives were that, while there has been stigma surrounding pumping in the past, views are changing. CONCLUSION Lactation care providers strive to provide judgement-free support for pumping, but communicating challenges about pumping may be perceived negatively by parents. More research is needed on lactation care provider education on pumping, interventions to reduce bias, and how these affect providers' pumping beliefs, attitudes, and provision of judgement-free delivery of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Anders
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Reham Yasin
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
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Gutierrez Dos Santos B, Shenker N, Weaver G, Perrin MT. Comparison of Breastfeeding and Pumping Experiences of Milk Bank Donors in the United States and United Kingdom. Breastfeed Med 2023; 18:870-880. [PMID: 37889994 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2023.0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Background/Objective: As human milk banking services expand, information about lifestyle characteristics and infant feeding experiences of milk bank donors is relatively limited. Our goal was to describe and compare milk bank donors' demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics, and breastfeeding experiences in a variety of geographic settings. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from August 2022 to December 2022 with approved donors from three milk banks in the United States (n = 369), and one milk bank in United Kingdom (n = 187). Results: Donors in all settings were predominantly in their early 30s, White, married, educated, and identified as female. U.K. donors reported more frequently being on maternity leave (33% versus 5%, p < 0.001), predominantly feeding directly at the breast in the first 3 months postpartum (51% versus 28%, p < 0.001), and breastfeeding a single child longer (21.2 versus 13.3 months, p < 0.001) than U.S. donors. Significantly more U.S. donors reported pumping due to work (34% versus 11%, p < 0.001) and pumping multiple times per day (57% versus 36%, p < 0.001). Most donors reported receiving information about breastfeeding from a health care provider (94% United States and 88% United Kingdom, p = 0.022), while the internet was the most popular source of information about pumping (65% United States and 64% United Kingdom, p = 0.751). Conclusion: Factors not directly related to milk banking (e.g., maternity leave, sources of breastfeeding/pumping assistance) may have an impact on how donors feed their children and ultimately on their milk donation pattern. The impact of donor characteristics and feeding practices on donation patterns warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Shenker
- Human Milk Foundation, Rothamsted Institute, Harpenden, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, IRDB, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Weaver
- Human Milk Foundation, Rothamsted Institute, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Maryann T Perrin
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Nommsen-Rivers L, Black MM, Christian P, Groh-Wargo S, Heinig MJ, Israel-Ballard K, Obbagy J, Palmquist AEL, Stuebe A, Barr SM, Proaño GV, Moloney L, Steiber A, Raiten DJ. An equitable, community-engaged translational framework for science in human lactation and infant feeding-a report from "Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN)" Working Group 5. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 117 Suppl 1:S87-S105. [PMID: 37173062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human milk is the ideal source of nutrition for most infants, but significant gaps remain in our understanding of human milk biology. As part of addressing these gaps, the Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN) Project Working Groups 1-4 interrogated the state of knowledge regarding the infant-human milk-lactating parent triad. However, to optimize the impact of newly generated knowledge across all stages of human milk research, the need remained for a translational research framework specific to the field. Thus, with inspiration from the simplified environmental sciences framework of Kaufman and Curl, Working Group 5 of the BEGIN Project developed a translational framework for science in human lactation and infant feeding, which includes 5 nonlinear, interconnected translational stages, T1: Discovery; T2: Human health implications; T3: Clinical and public health implications; T4: Implementation; and T5: Impact. The framework is accompanied by 6 overarching principles: 1) Research spans the translational continuum in a nonlinear, nonhierarchical manner; 2) Projects engage interdisciplinary teams in continuous collaboration and cross talk; 3) Priorities and study designs incorporate a diverse range of contextual factors; 4) Research teams include community stakeholders from the outset through purposeful, ethical, and equitable engagement; 5) Research designs and conceptual models incorporate respectful care for the birthing parent and address implications for the lactating parent; 6) Research implications for real-world settings account for contextual factors surrounding the feeding of human milk, including exclusivity and mode of feeding. To demonstrate application of the presented translational research framework and its overarching principles, 6 case studies are included, each illustrating research gaps across all stages of the framework. Applying a translational framework approach to addressing gaps in the science of human milk feeding is an important step toward the aligned goals of optimizing infant feeding across diverse contexts as well as optimizing health for all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maureen M Black
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Parul Christian
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sharon Groh-Wargo
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - M Jane Heinig
- Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Julie Obbagy
- Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Food and Nutrition Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aunchalee E L Palmquist
- Department of Maternal & Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alison Stuebe
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa Moloney
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Raiten
- Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Comparing Experiences of Women Who Were Direct Breastfeeding and Women Who Used Expressed Breast Milk to Feed Their Infants. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2023; 48:96-102. [PMID: 36823725 DOI: 10.1097/nmc.0000000000000892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide understanding about feeding experiences of women who provide breast milk through direct breastfeeding and exclusive expression and to compare these experiences. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A qualitative study was conducted to gather experiences from the perspectives of women who had given birth to a healthy, term infant within the past 12 months and exclusively fed breast milk for at least 2 weeks. The sample was recruited from motherhood and breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. Groups had state- or national-based memberships. Interviews were examined for themes that were compared between feeding groups using thematic analysis. RESULTS Fifteen new mothers participated. Under the primary themes of Similarities and Differences, seven subthemes were identified: Fatigue, Importance of Support, Finding Joy in a Common Goal, Mixed Feelings, Trusting versus Tracking, Latching versus Body Failure, and Pumping in Isolation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Mothers who provide breast milk share common experiences and feelings of satisfaction. Expressed breast milk feeding offers some mothers a way to provide the benefits of breast milk while preserving a balance between maternal and infant physical and mental health needs. Understanding the different ways in which women manage breast milk feeding while balancing maternal and infant needs can prepare nurses to discuss various methods of breast milk feeding and provide individualized support.
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7
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Rosenbaum KA. Exclusive breastmilk pumping: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum 2022; 57:946-953. [PMID: 35716155 PMCID: PMC9546173 DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM To analyze and examine the concept of exclusive breast pumping (EP). BACKGROUND Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for infants, yet when breastfeeding is unsuccessful, parents resort to informal breastmilk sharing, artificial formula feeding, or EP. A growing proportion of families exclusively pump yet they often receive guidance from social media rather than healthcare providers because healthcare providers are uninformed about this feeding method. DATA SOURCE Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched using the following keywords: human milk express*, breast express*, breast milk express, breastmilk express*, exclusive pump, exclusive breast pumping, and exclusive expression. REVIEW METHODS Concept analysis design using Walker and Avant's method. RESULTS Three defining attributes of (1) absence of direct breastfeeding, (2) breastmilk expression, (3) and an enduring infant feeding pattern of feeding expressed breastmilk only via a bottle were identified. All three attributes are required to confirm the presence of the concept of exclusive pumping. Definitions, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are described. Model and contrary cases are discussed. CONCLUSION This exclusive pumping concept analysis allows for consistency in terminology in practice and research. EP is a feeding method which can increase the proportion of infants who are fed breastmilk and may reduce the risks that arise from artificial formula feeding.
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8
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Gribble KD, Bewley S, Bartick MC, Mathisen R, Walker S, Gamble J, Bergman NJ, Gupta A, Hocking JJ, Dahlen HG. Effective Communication About Pregnancy, Birth, Lactation, Breastfeeding and Newborn Care: The Importance of Sexed Language. Front Glob Womens Health 2022; 3:818856. [PMID: 35224545 PMCID: PMC8864964 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.818856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karleen D. Gribble
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Karleen D. Gribble
| | - Susan Bewley
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa C. Bartick
- Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roger Mathisen
- Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia, FHI Solutions, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Shawn Walker
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Gamble
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Health Care Research, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Nils J. Bergman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arun Gupta
- Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Jennifer J. Hocking
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hannah G. Dahlen
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW, Australia
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9
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Von Kohorn I, Flaherman V. Human Milk for the Term Newborn. Clin Perinatol 2021; 48:513-531. [PMID: 34353578 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human milk provides optimal nutrition for term newborns, but the prevalence of its use is below target, and risks have been identified. Infants of black mothers as well as term newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are at risk for not receiving human milk. To improve human milk intake, multiple individual-level interventions have been shown to be effective, but some popular system-level interventions are ineffective or harmful. Expressed milk and donor milk may be less beneficial than direct breastfeeding. Nuanced public policies can help support lactation while promoting individual choice and equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Von Kohorn
- Department of Pediatrics, Holy Cross Health, 1500 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Valerie Flaherman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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10
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Becker GE. Marketing Breast feeding Substitutes: A Discussion Document. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249239. [PMID: 33321893 PMCID: PMC7764067 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marketing influences knowledge, attitudes, and decisions related to infant and young child nutrition, safety, development, parental confidence, and other aspects of health and wellbeing of the child. These attitudes and behaviours of parents, health workers, policy makers, and other influencers have short- and long-term effects on the child. There is an International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Is it time to have a code of marketing of breastfeeding substitutes?
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11
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Expressed breast milk feeding practices in Hong Kong Chinese women: A descriptive study. Midwifery 2020; 91:102835. [DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2020.102835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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Fehr K, Moossavi S, Sbihi H, Boutin RCT, Bode L, Robertson B, Yonemitsu C, Field CJ, Becker AB, Mandhane PJ, Sears MR, Khafipour E, Moraes TJ, Subbarao P, Finlay BB, Turvey SE, Azad MB. Breastmilk Feeding Practices Are Associated with the Co-Occurrence of Bacteria in Mothers' Milk and the Infant Gut: the CHILD Cohort Study. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 28:285-297.e4. [PMID: 32652062 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gut microbiota play a critical role in infant health. It is now accepted that breastmilk contains live bacteria from endogenous and exogenous sources, but it remains unclear whether these bacteria transfer to the infant gut and whether this process is influenced by breastmilk feeding practices. Here, we show that certain bacteria, including Streptococcus spp. and Veillonella dispar, co-occur in mothers' milk and their infants' stool, and co-occurrence is reduced when infants receive pumped breastmilk. The relative abundances of commonly shared species are positively correlated between breastmilk and stool. Overall, gut microbiota composition is strongly associated with breastfeeding exclusivity and duration but not breastmilk feeding mode (nursing versus pumping). Moreover, breastmilk bacteria contributed to overall gut microbiota variation to a similar extent as other modifiers of the infant microbiome, such as birth mode. These results provide evidence that breastmilk may transfer bacteria to the infant gut and influence microbiota development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Fehr
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION), Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Shirin Moossavi
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION), Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hind Sbihi
- Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rozlyn C T Boutin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lars Bode
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bianca Robertson
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chloe Yonemitsu
- Department of Pediatrics and Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Catherine J Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allan B Becker
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION), Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Malcolm R Sears
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ehsan Khafipour
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Theo J Moraes
- Department of Pediatrics Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Padmaja Subbarao
- Department of Pediatrics Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - B Brett Finlay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Stuart E Turvey
- Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Meghan B Azad
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION), Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Dinour LM. Speaking Out on "Breastfeeding" Terminology: Recommendations for Gender-Inclusive Language in Research and Reporting. Breastfeed Med 2019; 14:523-532. [PMID: 31364867 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The term "breastfeeding" has recently been critiqued for its ambiguity, as it has come to mean both (1) feeding an infant at the breast and (2) feeding expressed human milk to an infant. In addition, "breastfeeding" is nearly always associated with mothers and women, yet there are individuals who feed their infants human milk and do not identify as such. By using gendered language when conducting and publishing lactation-related research, we risk both alienating an already marginalized population and inhibiting our ability to gather valid, high-quality surveillance data. For example, of 15 U.S. surveys measuring breastfeeding rates, practices, and public opinions, 33% only sampled mothers, and another 33% made assumptions regarding the gender or sex identity of the person giving birth or breastfeeding. In addition, a review of 20 scholarly journals that publish lactation-related research found that only one requires specific language for breastfeeding in their instructions for authors. In response, I recommend several additions to recently proposed terms that describe human milk feeding and associated behaviors. Acceptance and consistent usage of these linguistically inclusive or nongendered terms by researchers will further enhance the quality of future data collection and research dissemination through the representation of all individuals choosing to provide human milk to their infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Dinour
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
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