Cancer Prevention Blog

Breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby

New research from Cambridge University that babies fed on formula milk cry less than breastfed infants because they are effectively “comfort eating” may not surprise many mums.

Reaching for the bottle can be an easy, and understandable, short-term solution when your child won’t stop crying.

The Cambridge research, highlighted by the BBC and the Guardian among others, shows that breastfed babies cry more, laugh less, and generally have “more challenging temperaments” than their formula-fed contemporaries.

But as the scientist who led … Continue Reading

Breastfeeding at work

It is usually politicians from the other side of the political divide who criticise government policy.

But yesterday, it was former Conservative Minister Ann Widdecombe who spoke against Government plans to ask companies do more to make it easier for mothers who work to breastfeed.

Apparently (and we’re only basing this on media coverage because they will not be published until tomorrow) the proposals will be:

• that employers will be urged to have private rooms where women can feed their babies and … Continue Reading
  
  Tweet

Professor Ricardo Uauy

Last week I set up an interview between The Observer and Professor Ricardo Uauy.

It was along the lines of a lecture Prof Uauy gave at World Cancer Research Fund’s (WCRF) international scientific conference earlier this month.

The headline the Observer used for the article was “Child’s cancer risks rise ‘before pregnancy“.

I would imagine this would have surprised many people.

Many of us think of making lifestyle choices to reduce cancer risk as something that is only relevant to us … Continue Reading

Breastfed babies: open to new foods

As you may be aware, World Cancer Research Fund recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months and then adding other liquids and foods.

This is because of strong evidence that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of breast cancer and reduces the child’s chances to being overweight, which is an established cancer risk factor.

But today we heard a talk by Professor Ricardo Uauy about how early we should be … Continue Reading