Breast milk donation is not new, whether it is expressed breast milk and given to the infant in a recipient or directly at the breast of someone other than the baby’s mother. Breast milk donation has always existed in the history of humankind. In most countries, the donation of human milk to milk banks for the purpose of feeding premature or sick infants is regulated. This usually happens under the umbrella of a donor bank, either within the hospital where…
In recent years, immunization for certain diseases in adulthood is increasingly recommended, such as for COVID-19 or influenza. Other vaccinations, such as tetanus, often have refreshers in adulthood as well, and in certain populations, depending on risk factors, other available vaccines may also be recommended. When, as a healthcare professional, you find yourselves in the situation of vaccinating a person who is currently breastfeeding, you might question: are all vaccines compatible and safe during breastfeeding? Are there any periods of…
We know that endocrinopathies can make breastfeeding difficult. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrinopathy in women of childbearing age, with an incidence of between 6 and 10% of women. Together with other abnormalities, when PCOS is present, there is usually also insulin resistance, and therefore, there is a presence of hyperinsulinemia. Women with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus have a high incidence of PCOS and hyperandrogenism, and the use of external insulin may promote insulin resistance and weight…
Premature weaning can have different definitions depending on the point of view from which it is approached. From a public health point of view, international organizations such as the WHO emphasize the recommendation to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and up to 2 years of age or until the mother and infant desire. We refer to premature weaning when breastfeeding stops, but the mother did not wish nor want to do so. According to Ballesta et al., in Spain,…
Some days ago, an opinion article with the striking headline, “Inside the Booming Business of Cutting Babies’ Tongues,” was published in the prestigious New York Times. In this article, personal cases, situations, and first-person experiences about the process of performing a tongue-tie release (or frenotomy) are reported. We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you our clinical team’s opinion and how we think about certain points of view in the management of lingual ankyloglossia or tongue-tie. Stomatognathic functions…
When talking about breastfeeding in pregnancy, we come across contradictory messages that rarely have a scientific basis. This leads the mother or breastfeeding person to have doubts when planning a pregnancy during lactation or fears if she is already pregnant. Lack of research on pregnancy during breastfeeding The first thing to note is that scientific publications on the subject are notably absent. In addition, most of the publications that are less than 10 years old are literature reviews and therefore,…
Amenorrhea during lactation is a phenomenon that, although well known, is little researched, like so many other areas of women’s health. Even so, the scarce existing evidence indicates that instead of being a problem for health, it could provide health benefits. It allows for a reduced need for iron and, therefore, protection against anemia, among other considerations. How amenorrhea occurs The prolactin peaks produced by repeated sucking of the nipple by the infant are capable of inhibiting the secretion of…
When mastitis is suspected, sometimes a breast milk sample for lab testing is one of the diagnostic strategies that can be used in order to approach the most suitable treatment. In order to do this, the breast milk culture sample must be collected in an optimal way, so that the result is as reliable as possible. Recommendations for sample collection The recommendations for obtaining the breast milk sample are as follows: Manual extraction Manual milk expression can be a challenge…
Anaphylaxis caused by breastfeeding is a rare situation in the context of breastfeeding that appears as an allergic response to the milk ejection reflex. It usually occurs within a few minutes of latching on or expressing (manually or with a breast pump), although it can also appear up to half an hour later. Pathophysiology Although the pathophysiology of this condition is not clear, it is possible that the decrease in progesterone and the increase in prolactin after birth cause mast…
November 21 marks International Spina Bifida Day, which seeks to raise awareness of this condition that can be prevented during the time of trying to get pregnant. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect; in this case, the spinal column does not close completely during the first weeks of pregnancy, which can damage the nerves and leave the spinal cord unprotected. Classification of spina bifida There are 3 types of spina bifida, which are classified according to their…