The Star Ledger published an article about mother’s who are unable to nurse and are turning to online websites to find other women willing to share their breast milk. Sites such as milkshare.birthingforlife.com have grown in popularity as they connect families and provide information on milk sharing.

“We now recognize that human milk is far more than just good nutrition. It supports growth and the development of a growing infant,” said Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, Head of Adolescent Medicine at Cooper and a member of the executive committee for the section of breast-feeding for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “I unequivocally do not recommend casual sharing of human milk. I do recommend donor milk in situations when a mother can’t or should not give her baby her own milk; but that donor milk should be acquired through a donor milk bank.”

To read the complete article visit nj.com.

Lori B. Feldman-Winter, MD, Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine at Cooper, was featured in an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the importance of educating medical staff on breastfeeding care.

In a study using trained residents, Dr. Winter, along with several other experts, found that a targeted breastfeeding curriculum for residents in pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology improves knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding management in residents.  It also increases exclusive breastfeeding in their patients.

“Physicians are influential in the decision to breastfeed and critical to the support for continued breastfeeding, yet numerous studies confirm that physicians and residents lack preparation and skills necessary to help mother’s breastfeed,” said Dr. Winter.

To read the complete article visit pediatrics.aappublications.org.

CBS3 aired a news segment with Lori B. Feldman-Winter, M.D., Division Head of Adolescent Medicine, about breast feeding and the benefits associated with it for both the mother and the infant as opposed to using formula. A study estimates that if 90 percent of women breast fed babies for their first six months more than 900 infant deaths could be prevented and more than $13 billion in health care costs could be saved.

“Long term breast feeding of babies protect against things like sudden infant death syndrome, leukemia, diabetes and obesity,” said Dr. Feldman-Winter. “So there are a lot of benefits that outlast the period of breastfeeding.”

View the complete segment on CBS3.com.