It's a lovely article @meghanazad.bsky.social 😊
Publishing data did lead to positive change in Manitoba!
Here's the cited article in #IntBreastfeedJ
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

International Breastfeeding Journal Encompassing all aspects of breastfeeding, International Breastfeeding Journal aims to address topics including identifying women who are at increased risk of ...

Always #OpenAccess
#IntBreastfeedJ
link.springer.com/journal/13006

Dec 2025 Update for #IntBreastfeedJ

15 papers published w authors from 15 countries:

Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Turkiye, Spain, UK & USA

In total, >100 papers published in 2025!

Thanks to all our authors, reviewers and Assoc Editors 😊

#LifeOfAJournalEditor
Just rejected a manuscript that had been submitted to another journal simultaneously 😡
This is completely unethical as it wastes everyone's time and risks duplicate publication.
Please educate new authors/researchers: submit to one journal at a time, please!
#IntBreastfeedJ

Validity of an ion selective electrode for measuring human milk sodium and potassium ion levels at point-of-care in lactating mothers with inflammatory breast conditions - International Breastfeeding Journal Background Elevated human milk sodium (Na+) levels and Na+ to potassium (K+) ratios are commonly used in research to define breast inflammation in lactating mothers. Portable Na+ and K+ ion selective electrode probes (ISEPs) allow for immediate point-of-care testing by clinicians, potentially accelerating diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory conditions of the lactating breast (ICLB). We determined validity of ISEPs compared to the reference method inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in mothers with ICLB, and acceptability of ISEP point-of-care testing of mothers tested with clinical ICLB symptoms. Methods Human milk samples were collected from 43 mothers with ICLB, between December 2021 and September 2022. Mothers were recruited from private physiotherapy practices, a public women’s hospital, and the local community, in Melbourne, Australia. Human milk Na+, K+ and Na+:K+ ratio levels were tested at point-of-care (ISEPs), and later, in the laboratory (ICP-OES). Adjusted limits of agreement with Bland-Altman plots compared the two measurement methods, with rank linear mixed effects models establishing their relationship. Mother’s ISEP acceptability was assessed via two survey questions (0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) and open text response) and analysed via descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results Adjusted limits of agreement (lower limit mean (95% CI) to upper limit mean (95% CI)) between the two measurement methods were: -6.12 (-7.75, -4.49) to 6.12 (4.49, 7.75) mM for Na+; 7.37 (5.82, 9.47) to 25.6 (23.5, 27.7) mM for K+; and -0.82 (-0.85, -0.79) to 0.80 (0.77, 0.82) mM for Na+:K+ ratio. For Na+:K+ ratio, 100% of values fell within the limits of agreement. For Na+ and Na+:K+ ratio, ISEPs and ICP-OES shared a substantial amount of variability (Na+: conditional R2 = 0.87, p < 0.05; Na+:K+ ratio: conditional R2 = 0.94, p < 0.05). Mother’s acceptance of ISEP testing was high with a median (Q1, Q3) NRS score of 10 (10, 10). The most frequent theme was that the testing was ‘quick and easy, and unproblematic’ (n = 30). Conclusions Point-of-care human milk ISEP Na+:K+ ratio measurement in mothers with ICLB is valid and is rated as a highly acceptable clinical assessment tool by mothers with ICLB.

#IntBreastfeedJ update for Sept 2025

5 articles w authors from 4 countries: Australia, China, Iran and Spain

From Australia: new technique of point-of-care testing for human milk Na+ & K+ levels in lactating mothers w inflammatory breast conditions

#mastitis #breastfeeding

tinyurl.com/6eckm8fu

Exploring the social representations of breastfeeding among mothers and grandmothers in Uruguay using word association - International Breastfeeding Journal Background A comprehensive understanding of women lived experiences is crucial for developing effective strategies to support breastfeeding at both individual and systemic levels. In this context, thi...

August 2025 update for #IntBreastfeedJ

11 articles w authors from 14 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Ghana, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Sierra Leone, Sweden, UK, Uruguay, USA

From Uruguay: #breastfeeding word associations of mothers & grandmothers
tinyurl.com/483jdm94

Great to see University of Bath promoting this recent article in #IntBreastfeedJ
Pity the media people have used an image of a bottle, instead of a baby actually breastfeeding 😔
We need to keep pushing back when our media teams do this, or we will never normalise #breastfeeding 🤱🤱🏿🤱🏽

Becoming Baby-friendly: What works?

Becoming Baby-friendly: What works?

Celebrating 2025 World Breastfeeding Week!

#IntBreastfeedJ has new collection to attract studies advancing our understanding of successful strategies/processes underpining organisations' decision to implement BFHI
www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...

July 2025 update for #IntBreastfeedJ

We published 8 articles w authors from 13 countries: Australia, Afghanistan, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA, & Vietnam

Most recent: QI project improved bf at 4 m for mod-late preterm infants tinyurl.com/36xaxef9

#IntBreastfeedJ is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week!
Read about recent articles in my blog (link below)
🤱🤱🏿🤱🏼🤱🏾
#WBW2025

World Breastfeeding Week 2025 - Breastfeeding-friendly environments support sustainable infant feeding For World Breastfeeding Week 2025, we've collated influential publications across the globe in International Breastfeeding Journal that highlight the importance of supporting breastfeeding for a susta...

Ahead of World Breastfeeding Week
Ten articles in last 12 m investigating ways to support breastfeeding
We need governments, institutions, families & the community to provide supportive environments that enable women to reach their #breastfeeding goals
#IntBreastfeedJ
#WBW2025
tinyurl.com/5n8jjk6h

Update for #IntBreastfeedJ for June 2025

5 articles with authors from 8 countries:
Australia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkiye and Qatar

Karen Hawke et al interviewed Aboriginal women in South Australia - breastfeeding is often hard, but not always!
tinyurl.com/yycnjmk6

I suggested automatic open peer review when I started the #IntBreastfeedJ but Editorial Board recommended against.
Worth discussing again.
#Transparency

International Breastfeeding Journal Encompassing all aspects of breastfeeding, the International Breastfeeding Journal addresses the need for a high quality, open access multi-disciplinary ...

May 2025 #IntBreastfeedJ update!
10 papers w authors fr 17 countries
Topics from
- viable bacterial communities in pumped breast milk (bacteria from milk or pump?) to
"Impact of discontinuation of lactation consultant program on early infant feeding in Manitoba" (not good)
tinyurl.com/ye24ufz3

I haven't seen that yet.
At #IntBreastfeedJ we know that the general public reads our academic articles, so try to make sure they are understandable and appropriate for a general audience.

Announcement to celebrate World Human Milk Donation Day!
New collection for #IntBreastfeedJ
"Donor Human Milk in the 21st Century: Policy, Practice, Innovation,Equity, and Impact"
tinyurl.com/4h4xcvxt

Increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration in women with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2: developing an intervention from theory to acceptability - International Breastfeeding Journal Background Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mother and child, but rates of initiation and duration amongst women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 are low. Few interventions aiming to increase brea...

April 2025 was a busy month for #IntBreastfeedJ 🤱
13 papers published
Authors from 21 countries!
Thanks to all our Assoc Eds and reviewers 💐
This UK paper reports acceptability of #breastfeeding #intervention for women with high BMI
tinyurl.com/y575nnz2

Wet-nursing as a new strategy for orphan care in Saudi Arabia - International Breastfeeding Journal Background Saudi Arabia hosts more than 150 charitable institutions dedicated to vulnerable groups, such as orphan care associations that provide orphaned children with food, clothing, housing, and ot...

Interesting new paper in #IntBreastfeedJ
"The Al-Wedad Society for Orphan Care (ASOC) in Saudi Arabi operates a wet nursing program in which Saudi mothers breastfeed orphans in their care under specific conditions and circumstances."
#WetNursing
tinyurl.com/n2zy422m

Axial spondyloarthritis and breastfeeding: a prospective study - International Breastfeeding Journal Background There is sparse literature on the topic of breastfeeding in women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our aim was to obtain more knowledge about variables affecting breastfeeding for wome...

#IntBreastfeedJ March 2025 update!

Busy month - 10 papers with authors from 11 countries: Australia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, Nepal, Norway, Spain, UK, & USA

Incl another paper in Collection on Disability/Chronic ill health:
Axial spondyloarthritis & bfeeding
tinyurl.com/2b4uee6w

Text of article Conclusion - Promote breastfeeding alongside new RSV prevention strategies

RSV prevention - new vaccines for pregnant women and immunoprophylaxis of infants now available

Commentary by @theurichconsult.bsky.social in #IntBreastfeedJ reminds everyone to promote breastfeeding as an additional preventive and treatment strategy

tinyurl.com/4e4dc2nk

“They need to see breastfeeding so that they know how to do it”: the construction of motherhood through Instagram brelfies - International Breastfeeding Journal Background An offshoot of selfie taking is the “Brelfie” – a self-image capturing breastfeeding. Brelfie images and accompanying text are particularly useful to understanding how parents see themselve...

Time for Feb Update from #IntBreastfeedJ

3 papers w authors from 4 countries: Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, UK

2 papers w economic theme: evidence showing breastfeeding is cost-saving

1 paper w psychosocial analysis of brelfies: signposting support to other bfeeding parents

tinyurl.com/56vrvwfc

“They need to see breastfeeding so that they know how to do it”: the construction of motherhood through Instagram brelfies - International Breastfeeding Journal Background An offshoot of selfie taking is the “Brelfie” – a self-image capturing breastfeeding. Brelfie images and accompanying text are particularly useful to understanding how parents see themselve...

New at #IntBreastfeedJ!

"the construction of motherhood through Instagram brelfies"

internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

ICYMI #IntBreastfeedJ January 2025 update

mind map showing central idea "no one understands - help!" with themes and participants

#IntBreastfeedJ January 2025 update

7 papers with authors from 13 countries: Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Norway, Sweden, S. Africa, Türkiye, UAE, UK & USA

Always #OpenAccess

Check out @caoimhew.bsky.social 's article on low milk supply

tinyurl.com/5asee24d

Corporate political activity of the baby food industry: the example of Nestlé in the United States of America - International Breastfeeding Journal Background The marketing practices of the breastmilk substitutes industry have been known for decades, but little is known about the influence of the baby food industry, more generally, on public heal...

Yes, I see they cite #IntBreastfeedJ article by @melissamialon.bsky.social "Corporate political activity of the baby food industry: the example of Nestlé in the USA" which describes lobbying "to influence legislation and regulation so that it is favourable to the industry"
tinyurl.com/4czvj77v

Thanks for sharing this new article in #IntBreastfeedJ @breastfeeding.bsky.social

It's the first article in our new collection
www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 - Action needed to close the gaps in breastfeeding support To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2024, the Editor-in-Chief of International Breastfeeding Journal discusses some recent articles in the journal and how we can close the gap and provide breastfeed...

ICYMI Here's a blog I wrote for #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2024
I describe ten recent articles in #IntBreastfeedJ
Supporting breastfeeding: from Baby Friendly Hospitals, to health professional support, to return to paid employment
#WBW2024
communities.springernature.com/posts/world-...

#IntBreastfeedJ update for Nov 2024
3 articles with authors from 3 countries: Sweden, Taiwan & Thailand
"Implementing a colostrum-kit reduces the time to first colostrum for neonates admitted to the NICU – a retrospective observational study" from Sweden
tinyurl.com/bdfm6tyc

International Breastfeeding Journal Encompassing all aspects of breastfeeding, the International Breastfeeding Journal addresses the need for a high quality, open access multi-disciplinary ...

#LifeOfAJournalEditor
First thing I check in new manuscripts?
Funding!
#IntBreastfeedJ does not publish research funded by infant formula companies
Just rejected an interesting study
Funding is hard to get, but this is not the answer
#COI
internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/about

Time for October 2024 #IntBreastfeedJ update!

6 papers with authors from 8 countries: Denmark, Finland, Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, Sweden, UK and US

Historical cohort study from UK found assoc btwn short EBF in women with GDM and later type 2 diabetes
tinyurl.com/yc42mhay