PUBLISHED WORK
Mother's Milk for Michigan Infants Findings
April 13, 2022
The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has guided the investigation of breastfeeding since the 1980’s, incorporating the major constructs of attitudes, subjective norms/normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, and intentions. The purpose of this research study was to define a TPB-based structural latent variable model so as to explain variance in breastfeeding intentions and behaviors among a cohort of Midwest breastfeeding mothers.
Use of a Portable Point-of-Care Instrument to Measure Human Milk Sodium and Potassium Concentrations
July 2021
Objective: Human milk (HM) sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations, as well as the Na and K ratio (Na:K), are associated with stages of lactation and breast health. Portable point-of-care instruments to measure HM biomarkers related to secretory activation or tight junction disturbances would supply clinicians immediate information for individualized lactation care. This study compared HM concentrations of Na and K and Na:K measured by a biochemist with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and measured by a clinician with ion-selective electrode probes (ISEPs).
October 2022
Objective(s):To explore associations between day 10 postpartum (D10) secretory activation biomarkers with the breastfeeding outcome measures. Results: Participants (n = 92) provided a D10 breastmilk sample and completed D10 questionnaires and 83 completed D60 questionnaires. Participants with D10 impaired secretory activation sodium (> 23.0 mM) were more likely to report D10 perceived insufficient milk supply, χ2 = 7.002, p < .05; and less D10 feeding/pumping frequency a day, p < .05; and partial breastfeeding at D60, p < .05. Additionally, participants with D10 impaired secretory activation sodium-to-potassium ratio (sodium: potassium) > 0.8 were more likely to partially breastfeed at D60, p < .05.