Dear families,
Returning as every year now from the international neonatology conference “Neonatology in Naples” which takes place every year in Naples in November, I want to share some take home messages.
A stimulating gathering of minds, hands, and ingenuity devoted to Neonatology. A new science, born from the need to protect as much as possible the ever fewer newborns. The birth rate is plummeting more and more every year, at historic lows for too long now. The use of ART (assisted reproductive technology) is increasingly frequent and necessary due to the advanced age at which women approach motherhood. Prematurity and neonatal pathology dominate, requiring highly specialized support from the very first minutes of life. But it is not just about acting for the survival of these little ones, but about guaranteeing them future health, healthy neurological and behavioral development, and a good quality of life.
The correlation between extreme prematurity, neurological damage, and the incidence of psychiatric disorders (psychosis, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety-depressive syndromes, and bipolar disorder) is increasingly clear.
The role of the intestinal microbiota as a pillar of newborn health is now irrefutable.
Huge strides have been made in the prevention of bronchiolitis from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) thanks to maternal vaccination during pregnancy or direct immunization of the newborn already during hospitalization in the nursery, and yet the difficulty still today in treating and resolving severe forms without sequelae and disability.
This and much more... multidisciplinary teams comparing notes and all with a common ally: breast milk. A constant confirmation of effectiveness. A living tissue rich in growth factors, stem cells that help repair organ damage, hormones, immune proteins, modulatory elements of the microbiota for correct colonization—a gold mine in a single drop, in short. Unmatched. Irreplaceable. Indispensable.
The offering of breast milk is defined as a true human tissue transplant.
Together with skin-to-skin contact, and proximity to the mother's breast, it is more effective than any antibiotic in controlling infections. More powerful than any analgesic in controlling procedural pain and stabilizing vital signs.
Once again, the evidence that breast milk is prevention, protection, care.
Breast milk is life.
