The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has issued details of a study regarding breastfeeding and rheumatoid arthritis as published online ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
According to the research, women who breastfeed for longer have a smaller chance of getting rheumatoid arthritis. The study also found that taking oral contraceptives, which are suspected to protect against the disease because they contain hormones that are raised in pregnancy, did not have the same effect. Also, simply having children and not breastfeeding also did not seem to be protective.
The researchers compared 136 women with rheumatoid arthritis with 544 women of a similar age without the disease. They found that that those who had breast fed for longer were much less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis.
Women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis as those who had never breastfed. Those who had breastfed for one to 12 months were 25 per cent less likely to get the disease.
The proportion of women breastfeeding for more than six months has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. The authors concluded that it was difficult to say whether there was a connection between higher rates of breastfeeding and a corresponding fall in the number of women affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but that the results of the study provided yet another reason why women should continue breastfeeding.
May 15, 2008
The Prime Minister used a Commons statement to MPs on Wednesday to set out a raft of future policy plans in his proposed legislative programme for the 2008/09 session of Parliament. The early notification of the proposals is also designed to be an attempt to listen and respond to the public and MPs’ views via a consultation process.
In total there were plans for 18 full bills, linked under four themes of: economic stability; “making the most of your potential”; personalisation and improvement of public services; and “handing back power to the people”. The list of 18 includes an Equality Bill and an NHS Reform Bill which is aimed at taking forward proposals arising from Lord Darzi’s ‘NHS Next Stage Review’ of the NHS in England that would require legislation to enable their implementation.
May 15, 2008
Elaine Smith MSP lodged a motion in Scottish Parliament about National Breastfeeding Awareness Week which takes place across the UK from 11 to 17th May. The text of the motion is below.
That the Parliament welcomes National Breastfeeding Awareness Week which takes place from 11 to 17 May 2008; acknowledges the importance of the week in raising awareness of, and support for, breastfeeding; further acknowledges the extent of the challenges faced in Scotland in facilitating a cultural shift in favour of breastfeeding and securing improvements in rates of uptake and duration; notes the findings of recent research in Belarus which suggests that breastfed babies tend to have higher IQ; further notes with interest the views of health visiting experts in Leeds which indicate that a woman’s choice to start and sustain breastfeeding is highly influenced by the support of her partner; considers that more work must be done at a national level to promote support for breastfeeding among men and to challenge negative attitudes where required; believes that more general information and assistance is required to promote breastfeeding as an important public health priority, and calls on the Scottish Executive to promote material aimed specifically at men to act as a mechanism for discussion to ensure that men are made aware of the advantages of breastfeeding and encouraged to offer support to partners.
May 9, 2008
Susan Kramer MP tabled EDM 1524 in light of news from the National Toxicology Program in the US that exposure to low levels of Bisphenol A ‘can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’. The text of the EDM is below:
That this House notes that Bisphenol A, or BPA, a monomer used to make polycarbonate and expoxy resins, has been found to leak from the plastic used in many baby feeding bottles, especially when the bottles are heated or are scratched through repeated washing; notes that the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health, found that, based on animal experiments, exposure to low levels of BPA `can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’; further notes that these products are being withdrawn in Canada as a precautionary measure; commends the decision by Asda and other UK retailers to produce BPA-free bottles; joins the National Childbirth Trust in calling for the clear compositional labelling of plastic baby feeding bottles with Bisphenol A so that parents can make an informed choice; and calls on the Food Standards Agency to urgently review the use of BPA in baby bottles in light of the new evidence
May 9, 2008
The Health Select Committee this week heard evidence as part of it inquiry into health inequalities. Opening the meeting the Kevin Barron MP (Chair) asked the witnesses what three evidence-based interventions they would recommend introducing to reduce health inequalities.
Leading the responses Professor Mike Kelly, Public Health Excellence Centre Director, at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said he would recommend that women take 400 grams of folic acid daily when they were trying to conceive and during the first four months of pregnancy. His second recommendation was that breastfeeding should be promoted as the best start for children’s health and that mothers should breastfeed for longer.
The early years programmes was also highlighted as having an important impact on tackling health inequalities but that investment in the early years of a child’s life and also their mothers needed to be re-emphasised.
It was also pointed out that a multi-pronged approach was probably needed to address public health issues. Improved counselling and support for those giving up smoking in deprived areas could help reduce inequalities and education, income and employment were all pointed out as having a positive impact on inequalities. Professor Kelly noted that a small shift in resources in education and income distribution could have a big effect on health inequalities
May 1, 2008
Date: April 2008
NCT National Press Release
Breastfeed with pride says NCT
As National Breastfeeding Awareness Week approaches (11-17 May) the NCT is marking the Week by encouraging NCT branches nationwide to host events and activities in their local area.
Local branches will be calling on shops, cafes and leisure facilities to do everything they can to promote the fact that local breastfeeding mothers will be made welcome.
The charity wants to encourage more mothers to give breastfeeding a go and engage the support of their family and friends – this will enable mothers to feel confident about breastfeeding for as long as they want to and give their baby the healthiest possible start in life.
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT said;
“We are proud our branches are supporting National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Research shows that the benefits of breastfeeding start right from day one, so every day of breastfeeding is a reason to feel proud. This is especially important for the nine out of 10 women who stop breastfeeding before they want to. We want the families and friends of women who breastfeed to recognise the support they give can also make a real difference to a mother’s confidence in breastfeeding and make a positive difference to babies’ health.”
Trained NCT breastfeeding counsellors are locally available seven days a week to answer questions and provide support around baby feeding. For further information call the NCT Breastfeeding Line on 0870 444 8708 Mon-Sun between 8am and 10pm.
In addition to the helpline, the NCT runs breastfeeding courses for parents who want to learn about baby feeding and related matters. A trained NCT breastfeeding counsellor helps parents and enables them to be in a better position to be able to breastfeed it they want to. Call NCT Enquiries for more details on 0870 444 8707.
The charity is also lending its support to the National Breastfeeding Conference for health professionals on 12th May. For more information visit www.breastfeeding2008.co.uk;
Ends
Notes to Editors:
· The NCT has books and booklets relating to breastfeeding which can be ordered from NCT Sales 0870 112 1120 or visit www.nctsales.co.uk Breastfeeding - A Good Start-Breastfeeding: how to express and store your milk. Breastfeeding for Beginners.
· The National Breastfeeding Conference takes place 12th May 2008 at Church House Conference Centre, London. The RCM is hosting the joint conference by the Department of Health, RCN, NCT, Communtiy Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association and others. The Conference will showcase recent national initiatives and has professional accreditation for health professionals. For more information visit www.breastfeeding2008.co.uk
· NCT is a proud member of the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition. www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk. The Breastfeeding Manifesto outlines seven key objectives which we are campaigning to have implemented into UK policy and legislation. It will ensure that mothers are supported so that they are able to breastfeed. The Manifesto has a wide range of Coalition members from Royal Colleges to environmental organisations and highlights the wide benefits breastfeeding can have on society. For more information and to sign up as a supporter, please visit www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk
May 1, 2008
Luxembourg has implemented new legislation on infant and follow-on formula which bans the advertising of all formula milk to the public. They are the first European country to implement a ban on the advertising of follow-on formula to the public. The new law was published on 3rd April and calls for companies to comply with the new rules by 31st December 2009, as stated in the EU Directive which instigated the new legislation.
April 11, 2008
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) has announced that it has launched a breastfeeding educational CD resource for schools, to assist teachers in their approach to the sensitive topic of breastfeeding in a way that is both interesting and thought provoking. It said that breastfeeding had been recognised as a major public health issue and that it was vitally important that education about breastfeeding should start in childhood, particularly in Northern Ireland, where it said there was a strong bottle-feeding culture.
The resource aims to provide significant support to those involved in educating school children about the importance of breastfeeding to the health of mum and baby. It also sensitively tackles the need to change attitudes towards breastfeeding.
April 11, 2008
The NICE guidance advises those who work with pregnant women and mothers on how to help them make decisions about their diet and lifestyle that will keep them healthy and give their babies the best start in life. NICE calls for national consistency in the quality and quantity of support available to help address disparities in the nutrition of mothers and young children from low-income and other disadvantaged groups compared with the general population.
The public health guidance is based on evidence showing how all those who work with families can support mothers in changing their own and their child’s eating habits, thus increasing their chances of a healthy life. It makes recommendations relevant from conception to five years of age. Advice to health professionals includes; making people aware of the Healthy Start Scheme; providing practical and tailored advice on healthy eating through pregnancy and in the early years; advising on vitamin supplements and; setting up easily accessible breastfeeding peer support programmes
March 28, 2008
