Breastfeeding: its history, the quality of the evidence for it, and the alleged benefits to the baby and to the mother // Placebos in vaccine trials // Are we overreacting to COVID?

 

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

 

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References:

 

1) Breast feeding rates according to the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

 

2) Historical trends in breastfeeding: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/131/2/421S/4686960

 

3) Breastfeeding for pain control: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/3/e716.long, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12511452/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11927701/

 

4) Cochrane review on skin-to-skin care: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008435.pub3/full

 

5) Sucrose and warmth for analgesia: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/135/3/e607

 

6) Formula vs. donor breast milk for preventing NEC: https://www.cochrane.org/CD002971/NEONATAL_formula-versus-donor-breast-milk-feeding-preterm-or-low-birth-weight-infants

 

7) WHO review on short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/95585

 

8) Systematic review on breastfeeding practices and infant mortality: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26249674/

 

9) Belarus study on obesity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23483175/

 

10) Cochrane review on optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: https://www.cochrane.org/CD003517/PREG_optimal-duration-of-exclusive-breastfeeding

 

11) Jonathan’s article about placebos used in vaccine trials: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/placebos-used-vaccine-trials-do-not-please-everyone

 

12) Jonathan’s article about Sweden and the pandemic: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/which-sweden-do-you-want-believe

 

 

Music Credits:

 

Amazing Plan by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3358-amazing-plan

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

Harmony  by DreamHeaven

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6497-harmony-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/