Babies gain from ‘kangaroo’ care study at Kent hospital

Source: BBC

Click here to read the full story.

Date of publication: July 2010

In a nutshell: News of a study in Kent on the use of a special sling to help mother and baby bond.  The “kangeroo care” is said to have helped babies born prematurely to develop and put on weight and quicker than if they were to stay in an incubator.  It also encourages mothers to continue breastfeeding.

Publication type: News story

Length of publication: 1 page

Fortification of maternal milk for very low birth weight (VLBW) pre-term neonates

Source: Early Human Development

Early Human Development, 2010, (in press) doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.01.006

Click here for abstract.

Date of publication: Article in press

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell:

This research suggests that fortified human milk should be used in cases of infants with a very low birth weight to ensure adequate protein and energy for the infants’ nutritional requirements and growth.

Length of publication: 4 pages

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Does breastfeeding in the neonatal period influence the cognitive function of very-low-birth-weight infants at 5 years of age?

Source: Brain and Development

For fulltext link here

For Abstract link here

Year of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Breast milk is rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is thought to be necessary for optimal neurodevelopment. This study evaluated the relationship between breastfeeding and the cognitive function of very-low-birth-weight infants at 5 years of age. It concludes that breastfeeding increases the DHA level in preterm infants and may have an important influence on brain development not only during early infancy but also during the preschool years, especially in terms of cognitive function.

Length of publication: 6 pages