Steve Miller - Australian Breastfeeding Association for Health Professionals

How is the Microbiota Influenced by Breastfeeding? Anna Reeves, BA Health Science (Nutrition & Dietetics), Cert IV Breastfeeding Education

Despite the increased attention placed on understanding the role of the gut microbiome in human health, we are only beginning to understand how the infant gut microbiome is first established. Little is known about the variations in microbial communities in human milk across populations (Lackey et al., 2019). Very little is known about factors that influence variation in the milk microbiome, although the following have been identified as likely to be important: time postpartum, delivery mode, antibiotic use and maternal factors such as diet (including consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners (Olivier-Van Stichelen, Rother, & Hanover, 2019) and fibre intake (Çavdar, Papich, & Ryan, 2019)) (Hermansson et al., 2019).

How is the Microbiota Influenced by Breastfeeding? Anna Reeves, BA Health Science (Nutrition & Dietetics), Cert IV Breastfeeding EducationSteve Miller2021-04-05T14:28:27+10:00

Supplementation methods for the breastfed baby. Naomi Hull RN, Cert IV Breastfeeding Education, IBCLC, MPH (Nutrition)

We are all familiar now with the knowledge that ‘nutrition and nurturing during the first year of life are both crucial for life long health and well-being’ (WHO, 2019), but how are we going in ensuring that babies are fed in such a way that supports their life-long health?

Supplementation methods for the breastfed baby. Naomi Hull RN, Cert IV Breastfeeding Education, IBCLC, MPH (Nutrition)Steve Miller2021-04-05T14:28:38+10:00

Nipple Shield use — where are we up to in 2019? Dr Kate Naylor MBBS (Monash), FRACGP, IBCLC, Cert IV Breastfeeding Education

There is reference to mothers using nipple shields as far back as 1550. The original nipple shields were made of bone, cow skin, pewter, glass or tin. These early shields were conically shaped with several holes in the tip; they provided a physical barrier between the mother’s breast and the baby’s mouth, therefore decreasing pain with latching. By the 1850s they were made of rubber and, in the 1950s, they were made of latex (Powers, 2012).

Nipple Shield use — where are we up to in 2019? Dr Kate Naylor MBBS (Monash), FRACGP, IBCLC, Cert IV Breastfeeding EducationSteve Miller2021-04-05T14:30:31+10:00

Breastfeeding and Diabetes, Gemma Macdonald, BSc (Hons)

Diabetes is increasing worldwide and as a consequence is having a greater impact on mothers, revealing concerns for breastfeeding outcomes. Diabetes is a complex condition, combining genetic and non-genetic causes. People with diabetes need a genetic predisposition and do not get diabetes simply because they ‘gained weight’ or ‘ate too many sweets’. There are three main types of diabetes: • type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) • type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) • gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). All types of diabetes result in increased sugar (glucose) in the blood due to a lack of or an insufficient amount of insulin (hormone that moves sugar from our blood to our cells so it can be used to make energy), or a resistance to the normal effects of insulin.

Breastfeeding and Diabetes, Gemma Macdonald, BSc (Hons)Steve Miller2021-04-05T14:30:34+10:00

Breast Refusal

A baby’s refusal to suck at the breast is a distressing problem for a mother. The mother can feel as though her baby is rejecting her and may think she has to wean. However, the problem is usually temporary. When supporting a mother who is concerned about breast refusal, it is important to firstly determine if the baby is truly refusing. For example: Is she allowing her newborn enough time to attach and feed? Does she perhaps not realise that feeding patterns change as the baby gets older Sometimes you may never know the reason for the baby’s refusal.

Breast RefusalSteve Miller2021-04-05T14:26:13+10:00

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