XIII International Conference on Kangaroo Mother Care - Different opinions, experiences and related KMC issues: Good practices, stabilisation concept, nutrition and basic respiratory support.

Aim: This study aimed to summarise the views and experiences of the participants in the workshop of the XIII International Conference on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

Methods: The results of the discussions held during the workshop of the XIII International Conference on KMC were summarised. There were 152 participants from 47 countries.

Human Milk Antioxidative Modifications in Mastitis: Further Beneficial Effects of Cranberry Supplementation.

Mastitis is the inflammation of one or several mammal lobes which can be accompanied by a mammary gland infection, and is the leading cause of undesired early weaning in humans. However, little information exists regarding the changes that this disease may induce in the biochemical composition of human milk, especially in terms of oxidative status. Given that newborns are subject to a significant increase in total ROS burden in their transition to neonatal life and that their antioxidant defense system is not completely developed, the aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant defense (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total polyphenol content (TPP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) in milk samples from mothers suffering from mastitis and controls.

Human milk microbiota in sub-acute lactational mastitis induces inflammation and undergoes changes in composition, diversity and load.

Sub-acute mastitis (SAM) is a prevalent disease among lactating women, being one of the main reasons for early weaning. Although the etiology and diagnosis of acute mastitis (AM) is well established, little is known about the underlying mechanisms causing SAM. We collected human milk samples from healthy and SAM-suffering mothers, during the course of mastitis and after symptoms disappeared.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative in Spain: A Challenging Pathway.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI-Spain) was founded in 1995 by members of key professional associations (pediatricians, midwives, obstetricians, and nurses) and some mother-to-mother support groups. The United Nations International Children's Fund was instrumental in supporting the establishment of BFI-Spain as a not-for-profit organization. In 2007, the need for change was identified.

Diet supplementation during early lactation with non-alcoholic beer increases the antioxidant properties of breastmilk and decreases the oxidative damage in breastfeeding mothers.

Background: After delivery and birth, mothers and neonates are exposed to oxidative stress. We tested whether supplementing the diet of breastfeeding mothers with non-alcoholic beer, a product rich in antioxidants, could improve their oxidative status and the antioxidant content of their milk. A prospective trial begun on Day 2 postpartum was conducted in mother-infant dyads.

ESPGHAN's 2008 recommendation for early introduction of complementary foods: how good is the evidence?

Since 2002, the World Health Organization and many governments and professional associations have recommended exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months followed by complementary feeding (giving solid foods alongside breast milk) as optimal infant feeding practice. Several articles have been published challenging this recommendation. Arguably, the most influential has been the 2008 commentary of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition, which recommended that complementary foods should be introduced to all infants between 17 and 26 weeks.