Nutrition

Due to its unrivaled nutritional profile, breast milk is frequently referred to as “liquid gold.” It has the ideal ratio of vitamins, minerals, and other critical components to satisfy the unique requirements of a developing newborn. This nutritional benefit is extremely important for a child’s cognitive development, including brain function and growth. Breast milk contains a special combination of fatty acids, including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which has been associated with enhanced cognitive function and higher academic achievements later in life.

Breastfeeding significantly contributes to a child’s brain development throughout the crucial first few years of life. Growth factors, hormones, and antibodies found in breast milk are among the bioactive substances that help synaptic connections and the development of brain circuits. These elements encourage the development of strong cognitive capabilities, including memory, concentration, and problem-solving ability, and facilitate optimal brain development. As a result, kids who breastfeed for longer periods of time may have a neurological edge that improves their ability to learn in school.

A unique supply of immune-stimulating nutrients, breast milk helps shield infants from illnesses and infections while promoting brain development. The antibodies in breast milk strengthen a child’s immune system, reducing the risk of infections that could impede their academic development.

Here we find a factor that may contribute to academic performance apart from breastfeeding: absences from school. So, it wouldn’t be exclusively the breastmilk but the fact that the child doesn’t miss school and, therefore, backslide in their performance. Breastfeeding may contribute to improving academic performance by reducing absences due to illness and protecting against common infections. This unbroken presence in the classroom has the potential to promote consistent learning and academic success.

Breastfeeding also promotes a strong emotional attachment between mother and child, in addition to providing nutrition for the baby. The mother-child relationship fosters closeness, comfort, and a sense of security that support a child’s healthy emotional growth, resulting in the child’s feeling of security, stronger self-esteem, social skills, and mental health.

Motherly Influence

The benefits of breastfeeding are mutual for the mother and the child. Breastfeeding mothers frequently make deliberate lifestyle decisions. These mothers frequently adopt healthier behaviors, such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep, which can improve their mental faculties, emotional stability, and parenting abilities. A mother’s healthy state of mind and active participation in her child’s education can help create a welcoming home atmosphere, nurture a love of learning, and pave the way for academic success.

Empirical evidence firmly supports the conclusion that prolonged nursing is associated with improved academic performance. The mother’s influence as well as the nutritional advantages, enhanced brain development, immunological protection, bonding and emotional support, and nutritional advantages of breastfeeding all affect a child’s academic success.

The post Longer Breastfeeding Results in Better School Achievement: Why Might That Be? appeared first on Medika Life.

The world is fighting two pandemics: Covid-19 and misinformation. Dangerous social media rumors and falsehoods continue to circulate, creating fear and mistrust among the general public. This week, the misinformation focused on a false link between Covid-19 vaccination and miscarriage.

The baseless claims started after anti-vaxxers misleadingly shared posts from a popular Oklahoma OB-GYN physician. Michelle Rockwell, MD, publicly shared the tragedy of her miscarriage through her social media platforms. She also celebrated her Covid-19 vaccination three weeks later. Conspiracy theorists disregarded the timeline, took her Instagram posts out of context, and spread falsehood regarding the timing of her vaccination and pregnancy loss.  

Facebook also removed a false post claiming that the head of Pfizer research found a link between the vaccine and female sterilization. This particular false claim is based on a confusing twist of scientific facts.

The Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use messenger RNA (mRNA). A single strand of mRNA delivers instructions to human cells to produce an antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The conspiracy theory that Facebook addressed stems from the fact that the spike protein is genetically similar to an essential placental protein called syncytin-1.

The placenta is the organ inside the uterus that keeps the baby alive through its internal filtration system. Syncytin-1 and the coronavirus spike protein share a tiny string of amino acids, but the placental protein is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The genetic similarity is not close enough for vaccine antibodies to recognize syncytin-1.

These fabrications prompted a statement on February 4 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) titled “Medical Experts Continue to Assert That Covid Vaccines Do Not Impact Fertility.”

Leaders from the U.K. spoke up about the viral misinformation. The president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Edward Morris, MD, issued guidance in January to reassure the public, stating, “There is​ ​no biologically plausible mechanism by which current vaccines would cause any impact on fertility.”

Neither the Moderna nor Pfizer vaccine contains a live virus. One cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine. Pregnant patients can rest assured mRNA vaccines do not cause fetal genetic changes. The mRNA vaccines do not enter our cells’ nucleus and do not alter vaccine recipients’ DNA. 

Much remains unknown about the novel coronavirus’s effects on pregnant women, babies, and Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Research indicates most pregnant people who contract Covid-19 do well but have an increased risk of ICU admission and preterm labor.

Based on the known risks of Covid-19 infection in pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advocates offering vaccination to pregnant and lactating people.

More than 3.7 million individuals give birth in the United States per year. Excluding pregnant patients from vaccine eligibility or scaring them away with false information creates a significant risk for moms and babies.

The post Experts Say Covid-19 Vaccine Is Not Linked to Miscarriage or Infertility appeared first on Medika Life.

The American College of Obgyn and other Women’s health experts agree that Covid-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant or breastfeeding people. Pregnant women were excluded from the initial Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials. Obstetrician/gynecologists, like me, follow the latest research to help our patients make safe decisions regarding their pregnancy.

The Boston research team published a study titled “Covid-19 vaccine response in pregnant and lactating women” in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG). The paper is consistent with several small studies showing pregnant individuals have a robust immune response after the Covid-19 vaccination and secrete the antibodies into their breast milk.

This study analyzed blood samples and breast milk from 131 women in Boston and the surrounding area. The group included 84 pregnant, 31 lactating, and 16 nonpregnant individuals. The study also included five women who reported a previous SARs-CoV-2 infection. Each participant received the two-dose series of the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine following the FDA-approved protocols.

The research team tested blood and breast milk before vaccination and monitored the antibody response. The scientists compared antibody levels in pregnant women to 37 individuals with a history of natural infection during pregnancy and a cohort of nonpregnant people.

The results indicated a robust blood antibody response in all three groups. While scientists have shown already that moms pass protective antibodies to their baby after a natural Covid-19 infection, this study is important verification that pregnant women also develop an appropriate antibody response after vaccination.

Antibody transfer is good news for babies because a newborn’s immune system is not fully developed. Babies rely on maternal antibodies from blood and breast milk to protect against various infections during the first few months of life.

This study also reinforced encouraging news for lactating people. All the vaccinated mothers had antibodies in the breast milk samples. This finding provides further evidence that vaccinated women pass protective antibodies to their babies. Antibodies are present in breast milk within five to seven days of other viral vaccinations such as Tdap and influenza. Previous research also demonstrated women with a natural Covid-19 infection produce antibodies and secrete them into their breast milk. This study confirms published data from Portland that vaccinated women do too.

The side effects reported in the study were rare and similar in all three groups. The most common symptoms were fever and chills. These side effects are known to be good signs the vaccines are working to trigger an immune response.

This paper adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy and lactation. We continue to learn more about the novel coronavirus’s effects on pregnancy, newborns, and Covid-19 immunization in pregnancy.

Current research shows most pregnant people who contract Covid-19 have excellent outcomes but have an increased risk of ICU admission and preterm labor. Based on the known risks of Covid-19 infection in pregnancy, pregnant and lactating people are eligible for any one of the three Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines.

None of the three FDA-approved vaccines contain a live virus. One cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine or spread the disease from the vaccines to a newborn through breastfeeding.

Pregnant patients can be confident knowing the three approved vaccines trigger an immune response to help protect themself and their babies.

Pregnant and lactating individuals are categorized as 1B in most states and1C in others.

To find a Covid-19 vaccine near you, click here.

The post High Antibody Covid-19 Vaccine Response During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding appeared first on Medika Life.

The US reached the 100 million dose milestone on March 19 and all adults who want to be vaccinated are on schedule to be vaccinated by the end of May. At the same time, states like New York and California are coping with a surge of Covid-19 variants. With 1 out of 6 adults now vaccinated, lactating people need information regarding the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccination while breastfeeding.

The American College of Obgyn and other Women’s health experts agree that Covid-19 vaccines should be offered to those who are breastfeeding. New evidence from a Portland research team shows the vaccine benefits might be even better than we thought. Their preprint report shows vaccinated individuals pass protective antibodies through breast milk.

The Portland researchers published a study titled “SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected in human breast milk post-vaccination.” Although the study numbers are small, the findings are critically important as the paper verifies that moms pass protective antibodies through breast milk after vaccination. These findings are not surprising as breast milk contains antibodies within five to seven days of other viral vaccinations such as Tdap and influenza.

This paper is important as we had not previously confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccines worked similarly to other vaccinations by producing breast milk antibodies. Previous studies confirmed that moms pass protective antibodies to their baby after a Covid-19 infection and secrete them during lactation.

The research team tested breast milk samples from vaccinated women in Portland and the surrounding areas in Oregon. The milk was tested for SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgA antibodies until 14 days after the mothers received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines.

The research team from the Providence Portland Medical Center was supported by grants from the Chiles Foundation and Nancy Lematta, a retired Portland business person who donated $2 million to the Providence Health system’s Covid research fund.

The results demonstrated a high-level antibody response in breast milk starting seven days after the first maternal vaccine dose. The study’s sample size was small with only six patients. This proof of concept study will lead to further, more robust research. Newborn babies have undeveloped immune systems. Maternal antibody transfer is important for protection against various infections.

The study also showed that Covid vaccination induced higher antibody levels than from a natural infection. We do not know how long the breast milk antibody response persists or how much protection they offer the baby.

Each day scientists learn more about the novel coronavirus’s effects on pregnant people, newborns and Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Guidelines change as we discover new information. We are no longer separating Covid-19 mothers from babies or discourage breastfeeding.

Because we have only studied SARS-CoV-2 for one year, the recommendations will continue to evolve as we learn more. Our current research indicates most the majority of pregnant people who contract Covid-19 do well but have an increased risk of ICU admission and preterm labor. We also know that the risk of transmitting Covid-19 to the newborn is very low.

Pregnant and lactating people are eligible for any of the three Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines. The Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use messenger RNA (mRNA) in which a single strand of mRNA delivers the genetic code to produce anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine supports the use mRNA vaccines in their statement, saying that “while there is little plausible risk for the child, there is a biologically plausible benefit. Antibodies transferred into milk may protect the infant from infection with SARS-CoV-2.”

The FDA also authorized a single-dose vaccine from Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. The Janssen vaccine uses an older technology in which a denucleated Adenovirus 26 (AD26) delivers genetic code to cells to induce an immune response. The FDA data show the adenovirus gets rapidly removed from our bodies and does not appear in breast milk.

The FDA-approved vaccines do not contain live virus. A person cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine or spread the virus through breastfeeding. Lactating people can rest assured knowing the early research shows the protective antibodies from vaccination do pass into the breast milk.

To find a Covid-19 vaccine near you, click here.

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