The role of fathers in breastfeeding: Decision-making and support

Background In recent years closer attention has been paid to the role of fathers in both the decision about whether to breastfeed and in supporting a breastfeeding mother. This qualitative study explores couples' decision-making regarding infant feeding, parents' views on the father's role in relation to breastfeeding, and examines some dilemmas fathers face when supporting a breastfeeding partner. Methods Eighteen men and women using maternity services at the Royal Sussex County Hospital were interviewed by telephone. Results Fathers acknowledged that the decision to breastfeed should be made by the mother and a father's role was to endorse his partner's decision and provide practical and emotional support. Those who faced breastfeeding difficulties described the processes involved in deciding whether to continue. Conclusions This small study draws upon the views of men and women living in the south-east of England in a city with high rates of breastfeeding initiation. Findings may not be generalizable to the wider population. However, in this setting new parents need information about breastfeeding and support to make informed decisions about duration and further input from health professionals when facing difficulties. </jats:sec

Raman spectroscopic study of the magnesium-carbonate minerals - artinite and dypingite

Magnesium minerals are important in the understanding of the concept of geosequestration. The two hydrated hydroxy magnesium carbonate minerals artinite and dypingite have been studied by Raman spectroscopy. Intense bands are observed at 1092 cm-1 for artinite and at 1120 cm-1 for dypingite attributed CO32- ν1 symmetric stretching mode. The CO32- ν3 antisymmetric stretching vibrations are extremely weak and are observed at1412 and 1465 cm-1 for artinite and at 1366, 1447 and 1524 cm-1 for dypingite. Very weak Raman bands at 790 cm-1 for artinite and 800 cm-1 for dypingite are assigned to the CO32- ν2 out-of-plane bend. The Raman band at 700 cm-1 of artinite and at 725 and 760 cm-1 of dypingite are ascribed to CO32- ν2 in-plane bending mode. The Raman spectrum of artinite in the OH stretching region is characterised by two sets of bands: (a) an intense band at 3593 cm-1 assigned to the MgOH stretching vibrations and (b) the broad profile of overlapping bands at 3030 and 3229 cm-1 attributed to water stretching vibrations. X-ray diffraction studies show the minerals are disordered. This is reflected in the difficulty of obtaining Raman spectra of reasonable quality and explains why the Raman spectra of these minerals have not been previously or sufficiently described