Among a large group of U.S. mothers who breast fed between 2016 and 2021, breast pump use was associated with 21 additional weeks of breastfeeding on average, according to a new study from researchers at Yale School of Medicine. In the first…
Tag: Infant Health
Contracting RSV Before Age 2 Can Cause Long-term Lung Changes and Impairment
Infants and children who have severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) before age 2 are likely to have changes to their lung structure and function that could affect respiratory health later in life.
Caffeine Treatment in Newborn Rats Reduces Stress Hormone Levels
Article title: Periodic hypoxia, intermittent pain and caffeine in male and female neonatal rats: corticosterone, insulin resistance and hepatic gene expression Authors: Ashley L. Gehrand, Jonathan M. Phillips, Hershel Raff From the authors: “In our study, we observed a significant…
Cleveland Clinic Launches Initiative Focused on Improving Infant and Maternal Health
Cleveland Clinic launched the Center for Infant and Maternal Health initiative to help reduce infant and maternal mortality in Cuyahoga, Lorain and Summit counties.
Scientists find more evidence that breast milk of those vaccinated against COVID-19 may protect infants
Findings from a newly published study provide further evidence suggesting that the breast milk of those vaccinated against COVID-19 may help protect babies from the illness
UAlbany Researchers Awarded $3 Million to Study Disparities in Black Maternal and Infant Health
UAlbany researchers recently received new funding to investigate why Black families disproportionately experience negative health outcomes in the first postpartum year. Findings from the five-year study will inform strategies aimed at improving Black maternal-infant health.
Exercise during Pregnancy Offsets Risks to Fetus from Maternal Obesity
Article title: Maternal exercise improves epithelial development of fetal intestine by enhancing apelin signaling and oxidative metabolism Authors: Song Ah Chae, Jun Seok Son, Jeanene Marie de Avila, Min Du, Mei-Jun Zhu From the authors: “These findings suggest that [maternal…
Mouse study links changes in microbiome to prenatal opioid exposure
Prenatal exposure to opioids had been linked to a range of adverse outcomes in infants, including poor fetal growth, low birthweight, possible congenital defects and a higher risk of admission to neonatal intensive care. Less information is known, however, on how developmental opioid exposure shapes an infant’s microbiome and how that influence, in turn, may trigger neurological or behavioral effects later in life.
Metabolomic Profiles Differ in Children Born to People with and without Obesity
Article title: Metabolomic signatures of low- and high-adiposity neonates differ based on maternal BMI Authors: Begum Aydogan Mathyk, Brian D. Piccolo, Fernanda Alvarado, Kartik Shankar, Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn From the authors: “Using untargeted metabolomics in 100 newborns, we found that cord…
Study found that food shortages and COVID-19 have led to unsafe feeding practices among formula-reliant families
The new collaborative report details the impact of baby formula shortages on infant-feeding practices.
Parents’ Obesity Causes Heart Dysfunction in Male Rats Soon after Birth
Article title: Sex differences in the impact of parental obesity on offspring cardiac SIRT3 expression, mitochondrial efficiency, and diastolic function early in life Authors: Jussara M. do Carmo, Ana C. M. Omoto, Xuemei Dai, Sydney P. Moak, Gabriela S. Mega,…
Breathing Support Improves Lung Function in Near-term Newborns
A new pre-clinical study in rabbits finds breathing support with an end-expiratory pressure improves lung function in near-term newborns with elevated lung liquid volumes at birth. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Bacteria are connected to how babies experience fear
New research from MSU shows that an infant’s gut microbiome could contain clues to help monitor and support healthy neurological development
Why do some babies react to perceived danger more than others? According to new research from Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, part of the answer may be found in a surprising place: an infant’s digestive system.
Thirdhand smoke impacts gut bacteria for infants, study finds
Infants exposed to thirdhand smoke while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show a difference in the composition of their gut microbiome, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Science Snapshots From Berkeley Lab
Science Snapshots From Berkeley Lab – Water purification, infant-warming device, cuff-based heart disease monitor, ancient magnetic fields
Exercise during Pregnancy Protects Kids’ Future Health from Parents’ Obesity
New research in mice suggests that exercising during pregnancy may help prevent children—especially boys—from developing health problems related to their parents’ obesity. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology. It was chosen as an APSselect article for February.