14 NEWS
2025
14 NEWS
22 AUGUST 2025 ausdoc. com. au
Tech tracks breastmilk intake
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Carmel Sparke IT is the Holy Grail for breastfeeding |
said Professor Malhotra, from Monash Children’ s Hospital. |
breastfeeding mother is to weigh the baby before and after the feed.” |
of 24 babies who were bottle-fed or syringe-fed, finding it was correct to |
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mums and neonatal clinicians: a device |
“ That is when mothers do not know |
He and Dr Fae Marzbanrad( PhD), |
within 5mL. |
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that could measure how much milk |
how much breastmilk the baby is actu- |
an engineer and Monash Univer- |
However, the device needed to be |
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babies actually swallow. Melbourne neonatologist Associate Professor Atul Malhotra has co-developed a non-invasive probe that can |
It was correct to within 5mL. |
sity researcher, developed Infafeed, which sits on the baby’ s neck during breastfeeding.
Infafeed has a microphone to
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validated in larger trials.
“ It could be used with a premature baby who is transitioning into breastfeeds. It could be a baby who is
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track breastmilk intake in real time. |
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measure swallowing sounds, an elec- |
experiencing difficulties swallowing |
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“ Any health professional looking |
ally taking. Unless they are bottle-feed- |
tromyograph to detect muscle activ- |
or latching on or other problems of |
Associate Professor Atul Malhotra. |
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after children in the infantile period— be that GPs, paediatricians, child health nurses or lactation consultants— struggles with one major factor,” |
ing, it is very hard to measure what is happening.
“ The only advice doctors and midwives can offer a worried
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ity and an accelerometer to assess velocity of the feed.
Professor Malhotra tested the accuracy of the device in a pilot study
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dysphagia,” Professor Malhotra said.
“ It is a cool invention, and we think there is a market.” Newborn 2025; 25 Mar.
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Propranolol overdoses rise |
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Mohana Basu MORE patients using beta blockers for non-cardiovascular indications could explain increasing rates of propranolol overdose, experts suggest.
Propranolol-related calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre have increased by 18 % over the past two years, reaching 441 in 2024, with 78 % of calls related to patients aged 20-74.
The centre could not provide data on intentional versus accidental overdoses or patient outcomes.
But researchers wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia in April that many patients and GPs were unaware of propranolol’ s lethal potential.
As little as 2g could cause seizures, arrhythmias and death, they warned.
GP Dr Cathy Andronis told Australian Doctor that younger patients in particular had picked up via social media that beta blockers were an alternative to SSRIs and were requesting propranolol scripts for anxiety.
“ They often want a short-acting quick fix for managing symptoms rather than risk the cost and side effects of SSRIs,” said Dr Andronis, chair of the RACGP’ s Specific Interests group for Psychological Medicine.
Propranolol was useful in scenarios such as workers with social anxiety having to present to groups but was ultimately still a bandaid solution, she said.
“ Psychological therapy that teaches young people how to regulate their emotions better naturally is much more effective in the longer term for a sense of safety in relationships with others.”
Med J Aust 2025; 21 Apr.