CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Formula Company Sponsored Discharge Bags: Nationwide Distribution

The CDC, AAP, and ACOG are all against the distribution of "free" formula-company sponsored dicharge packs for new mothers.  So, why are so many hospitals still giving them out?  Click to link to a publication that presents the results for all states east of the Mississippi. Nationwide data will be published shortly.  Use this link to see what we are doing and how you can become active in the Ban-the-Bags campaign

Recently, we have conducted a study to see how accurate our website is. We found all the bag-free hospitals across the nation and counted how many of them are on our website to see if our website was a reliable source. The results were positive, and with more publicity the Ban-the-Bags website can continue to be an even more accurate tool. 

Congratulations to all the authors, a letter to the editor has recently been published on this study in the Journal of Human Lactation. "A National Website to Track Hospital Discontinuation of Formula Sample Pack Distribution: Accuracy of Self Report," can now be viewed online.

"Trends in Sample Pack Removal" is another study that is being worked on.  We chose the 10 states with the best, and the 10 states with the worst record for sample pack distribution in 2007. We then called all the hospitals again in these states and looked at the trends of sample pack distribution. Our results show that while many hospitals still give out sample formula packs, and increasing number of hospitals are changing their habits and have stopped distributing sample formula packs.

Influence of Early Nutrition on Obesity

In 2008, we began a longitudinal cohort study of infants from birth until 2 years of age.  We are exploring the relationship between weight gain during the first week of life and exclusive breastfeeding in the first week of life to BMI at age 2.  

COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS

BantheBags Website Accuracy

Breastfeeding, Race and Ethnicity Race, ethnicity, and maternal place of birth are important predictors of breastfeeding.  BMC serves a largely minority and immigrant population.  Since its inception, The Breastfeeding Center has investigated breastfeeding in minority populations and working on clinical interventions to raise breastfeeding rates in these populations.  Click to see our present publications on this topic.

Seasonal and Racial Variation in Vitamin D Levels in Mothers and Newborns: We recently wrapped up a 3 year study that looked at the relationship between infant and maternal vitamin D levels at birth and infant levels at 4 months of age.  Click to link to our recent publication in Pediatrics.

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative:  "Baby-Friendly" is a UNICEF/WHO designation for hospitals that meet the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. UNICEF and the WHO began the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in 1991, as an international attempt to increase breastfeeding at the hospital level. For information on becoming Baby-Friendly in the US, contact Baby-Friendly USA.

 NICU peer counselors:  See how NICU peer counselors increased breastfeeding rates at our hospital. Click here

Hospital Education of Lactation Professionals (HELP):  We taught intensive breastfeeding education at 4 MA hospitals and looked at the impact on provider knowledge and breastfeeding rates.  As a result of our teaching on multi-cultural practices, Saints Memorial Medical Hospital instituted a Cambodian menu for postpartum women.  Link to this publication, or to the poster presentation (ILCA, 2006).  We are currently working on a publication that documents the effect of the teaching on breastfeeding rates.  Please check back soon!

Using the BFHI-90 Tool to measure compliance with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Ten Steps in the hospital setting (Collaborative project with the Department of Public Health in Quebec, Canada): This tool has been used extensively in Canada by our colleague Laura Haiek, MD.  Click to see how we used this tool (poster presentation, ILCA 2006) and to link to the free version of this tool

Accuracy of Breastfeeding Data on the Massachusetts Birth Certificate:

Please click here to see the results!

Prolactin Administration and Breast Milk Production

We recently worked with Corinne Welt, MD at Massachusetts General Hospital to look at the novel use of Prolactin to increase milk production in mothers with a low supply.  Check back for future publications and updates.

Iodine Levels in Colostrum

We have collaborated with the Department of Endocrinology to study iodine levels in colostrum. Click here to see the published results