Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months is a cornerstone of optimal infant nutrition and development. However, sustaining EBF beyond early infancy remains a major challenge globally, including in Iran. This study aimed to examine early feeding patterns, determinants of EBF, and associated growth outcomes among infants in northeastern Iran.

Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests that early nutrition, particularly reduced breastfeeding exposure, may be associated with an increased risk of ASC. However, this evidence is limited, especially in non-Western populations.

Antenatal colostrum expression refers to the practice of hand-expressing and storing breast milk during the final weeks of pregnancy, usually beginning around 36 weeks of gestation. Initially introduced to provide an immediate supply of colostrum for newborns at risk of hypoglycemia, particularly those born to mothers with diabetes, it was also intended to reduce reliance on commercial milk formula. Over time, the practice has gained significant international visibility through clinical recommendations, maternal testimonials, and social media promotion. As a result, antenatal colostrum expression is now being extended to low-risk pregnancies despite limited population-level evidence supporting its universal application. Implications of widespread adoption: Evidence from randomized controlled trials has shown that antenatal colostrum expression is safe for women with diabetes in pregnancy and does not increase rates of preterm birth. However, these studies did not find measurable improvements in breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, or long-term breastfeeding outcomes when compared to standard care. Reports from mothers highlight additional concerns, including prenatal mastitis, anxiety about milk supply, and pressure to collect excessive amounts of colostrum without professional supervision. For infants, the use of stored colostrum immediately after birth may contribute to overfeeding, a poor latch, and early reliance on supplemental milk. Beyond clinical outcomes, the growing commercialization of this practice risks presenting it as a maternal obligation rather than a carefully targeted intervention for selected situations.

To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of lingual frenectomy in children under five years of age, specifically regarding its impact on breastfeeding difficulties.

Human milk feeding is crucial for the survival and development of preterm infants, yet their human milk feeding rates at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) discharge remain lower than those of healthy newborns. Effective support is essential for improving breast milk feeding outcomes, but remains challenging for NICU nurses. Therefore, this study aimed to examine factors that influence NICU nurses in providing human milk feeding support, including the challenges they face and their needs.

Lactation mastitis is a common postpartum disease. Flucloxacillin is frequently used for treatment, but its efficacy is limited in some cases, potentially causing adverse outcomes such as premature cessation of breastfeeding. This study aimed to identify risk factors for poor treatment outcomes in lactational mastitis managed with flucloxacillin and provide evidence for precise clinical management.

Globally, evidence shows that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant's life has health benefits for families, communities, and the nation. However, many employed women discontinue EBF before six months, while others succeed. This study aims to identify and explain the factors that enable EBF success among employed mothers in the formal sector.

Although breastfeeding history is recognized as a potential protective factor against all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in women, its impact on these outcomes remains underexplored, particularly in the context of diabetes. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the association between ever breastfeeding and mortality risks from all causes and CVD in adult women with and without diabetes.

When mother's own milk (MOM) is insufficient, feeding very preterm infants with donor human milk (DHM) reduces the incidence of multiple severe complications and provides greater benefits than infant formula. Donor human milk (DHM) is obtained from breast milk banks, but establishing a human milk bank is very expensive. We propose a same-city delivery model for donor human milk (SCDM-DHM), where DHM is delivered via a cold chain from milk banks to NICUs without milk bank facilities, providing DHM to very preterm infants (VPIs).

Milk banks in Australia rely on the generosity of voluntary donors, enabling them to provide pasteurised donor human milk to vulnerable infants in hospitals. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of donating to a milk bank amongst breastfeeding women who are milk donors, or potentially eligible to donate milk. Having a deeper understanding of the barriers and facilitators for donating to a milk bank will promote sustainability of these services.

Despite efforts to promote mother‒newborn skin‒to‒skin contact (SSC) following delivery, this is seldom practiced. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends SSC at least one hour following birth. This trial determined the efficacy of nurse-led Breastfeeding Supportive Care (B-SUCA), an integrated intervention combining breast crawl with SSC for early initiation of breastfeeding outcomes, perinatal outcomes and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

Maternity leave is an important driver of a woman’s ability to breastfeed, but this association may have changed during the COVID pandemic, which introduced new employment dynamics and breastfeeding challenges for mothers in the workforce. Our objectives were to examine the associations between maternity leave length and type of maternity leave (paid vs. unpaid) with breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding duration during the pandemic, and to compare our findings with pre-pandemic data.

Breastfeeding supports infant health, yet medicine use during this period is often influenced by limited safety data, cultural beliefs, and weak regulatory guidance. This study highlights how these factors, along with partner influence, contribute to uncertainty and reliance on informal advice, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and better communication to support safe medicine use.

Holder pasteurization (HoP; 62.5 °C, 30 min) is the method used most frequently in human milk banks to reduce the risk of infection transmission through donor human milk (DHM), but it has the disadvantage of potentially affecting the contents of some bioactive milk components. Dry pasteurizers avoid water handling and are easier to operate than water pasteurizers; however, the effect of dry pasteurization on human milk quality has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HoP by water or dry pasteurization on the nutrient content of human milk.

Early breastfeeding initiation is a critical practice for improving neonatal health outcomes, yet little is known about its inequalities. This study examines trends and inequalities in early breastfeeding initiation among women in Ghana.

Human milk dynamically adapts its composition of immunoglobulins (Igs), cytokines, and other proteins as lactation progresses, influencing the infant's immune development and protection. Understanding how maternal factors, such as parity, influence the composition of human milk can provide strategies aimed at enhancing infant immune protection and reducing early-life infections. This study aims to investigate whether the immune composition of human milk differs based on parity, and if so, how these changes are related to infections in early life.

The intersection of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) presents unique challenges for maternal and infant health, particularly in settings where safe feeding alternatives are limited. For HIV-exposed infants, EBF alongside maternal viral suppression significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission and supports infant survival. However, infant feeding practices vary globally, and HIV introduces added social, medical, and cultural challenges. In Kenya, EBF rates are sub-optimal among HIV-positive mothers, with national rates estimated at around 61%. This study aimed to explore the breastfeeding experiences of HIV-positive mothers with HIV-exposed infants younger than six months at a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

Despite extensive global research on mothers' intentions regarding human milk banking (HMB), its acceptability remains underexplored in non-Western contexts, particularly in Muslim-majority countries. This study investigates barriers to HMB acceptability among nursing mothers in Iran through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), emphasizing how cultural, religious, and contextual factors intersect with maternal decision-making.