Student breastfeeding mothers are faced with emotional and physical challenges upon their return to school. Lack of space to breastfeed or pump as well as lack of support on campus are the main reasons that students stop breastfeeding prematurely. A day care facility on campus that accepts young infants, a Baby-Friendly space, and enhanced education are required to support student mothers in their choice to breastfeed.

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From the point of conception, twins share a small, dark, enclosed space in which their bodies touch and are jostled together. Each twin is constantly interacting with his or her fellow womb-mate. At birth, they leave their warm, comforting environment and are separated from each other by well-meaning healthcare providers. In recent years many have come to recognize a need for twins to remain together in a common crib after birth as institutions initiate developmental care, and implement policies that help to alleviate the stress after birth. Cobedding is a newly recognized developmental care practice that could help twins adjust to the extrauterine environment by allowing them to coregulate their body temperatures, sleep/wake cycles, and state-regulation, and self-soothe as well as soothe each other. The potential benefits and risks of cobedding twins are explored in this article through a review of literature.

Pilot studies can play an important role in the development of a competitive grant proposal and efficient conduct of a research trial. Pilot studies strengthen a proposal by providing essential baseline information. A general overview of the purpose of pilot studies is provided here, along with a description of the process of using findings from a pilot study to inform the development of a larger multisite trial. Findings from this pilot study examining the effects of co-bedding on twins and their parents are used to revise the research protocol for a larger multisite trial. These changes, which lead to improvement to the protocol, and the rational for these changes are highlighted.