Laboratory for Research in Human Milk and Lactation

Medical University of Warsaw

Laboratory for Research in Human Milk and Lactation

Medical University of Warsaw

Dr n. biol. Magdalena Babiszewska-Aksamit

E-mail: magdalena.babiszewska-aksamit@wum.edu.pl

Orcid: 0000-0002-1773-4858

Education

PhD in Biological Sciences. Graduate of the University of Wrocław with a degree in Physical Anthropology / Human Biology.

Professional Experience

As an Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, she co-implemented the research project “Mum’s Milk+”, which investigated the effects of social factors and stress on human milk composition, with particular emphasis on the content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs).

She was also involved in science communication and public engagement activities at the Chancellery of the Polish Academy of Sciences, working within the Office for Science Promotion and Public Outreach.

Since 2023, she has been a member of the Laboratory of Human Milk and Lactation Research at the Medical University of Warsaw.

Research Interests

Her research focuses on the impact of social and institutional support on lactation, including breastfeeding duration and human milk composition. She is also interested in the influence of maternal characteristics, biological factors, and health conditions, particularly gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), on milk composition and breastfeeding outcomes.

Additional areas of interest include breastfeeding promotion and infant and young child feeding in emergency and crisis situations. She has extensive expertise in human biology, evolutionary psychology, and physical anthropology.

Scholarships, Awards, Scientific Societies, and Academic Activities

Research scholarship under the LLP Erasmus Internship Programme, Department of Psychology, University of York, United Kingdom.

Socrates–Erasmus Programme in Evolutionary Psychology (Master’s level studies, one semester), School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Memberships

  • Founding member of the Polish Society for Human and Evolution Studies (PTNCE).
  • Member of the European Anthropological Association (EAA) (2016–2018).
  • Member of the Association of Science Advocates (Stowarzyszenie Rzecznicy Nauki, SRN) since 2018.

Science Communication and Public Engagement

She has collaborated with a number of national media outlets, including Gazeta Wyborcza, FOCUS, and Polish Radio Channel 4. She has appeared as an expert in radio and television programmes, including Karolina Głowacka’s Radio Naukowe podcast, Pytanie na Śniadanie (TVP2), Homo Science on TOK FM, and the television programme Cała Prawda on TVN Style.

Publications

  1. Klotz, D., Bzikowska-Jura, A., Giribaldi, M., Babiszewska-Aksami, M., Cassidy, T., Cavallarin, L., ... & Wesołowska, A. (2026). A Systematic Review on the Impact of Donor Characteristics and Donor Milk Handling on Infant Health and Growth. Advances in Nutrition, 100609.
  2. Gandino, S., Cassidy, T., Giribaldi, M., Babiszewska-Aksami, M., Bzikowska-Jura, A., Cavallarin, L., ... & Wesolowska, A. (2025). A Systematic Review on the Influence of Feeding Expressed Mother’s Own Milk Using Varying Expression Practices or Treatments on Health and Growth of Recipient Infants. Advances in Nutrition, 100523.
  3. Babiszewska-Aksamit, M., Szołtysik, M., Apanasewicz, A., Piosek, M., Winczowska, P., Cierniak, A., ... & Ziomkiewicz, A. (2025). The concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in human milk is associated with the size of maternal social network. American Journal of Human Biology, 37(2), e70006.
  4. Babiszewska-Aksamit, M., Bzikowska-Jura, A., Kotlińska, A., Aduła, A., Chrobak, A., Domosud, J., ... & Wesołowska, A. (2025). Good practice in lactation counseling for Ukrainian refugee mothers to ensure the health and mental benefits of breastfeeding–an observational study. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 28(2), 257-269.
  5. Tomaszewska, W., Apanasewicz, A., Gomółka, M., Matyas, M., Rojek, P., Szołtysik, M., ... & Jawaid, A. (2025). Differential microRNAs and metabolites in the breast milk of mothers with adverse childhood experiences. Translational Psychiatry, 15(1), 367.
  6. Matyas, M., Apanasewicz, A., Krzystek-Korpacka, M., Jamrozik, N., Cierniak, A., Babiszewska-Aksamit, M., & Ziomkiewicz, A. (2024). The association between maternal stress and human milk concentrations of cortisol and prolactin. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 28115.
  7. Babiszewska-Aksamit, M., Żelaźniewicz, A., Apanasewicz, A., Piosek, M., Winczowska, P., Barbarska, O., & Ziomkiewicz, A. (2024). Breast size in lactating women and the content of macronutrients in human milk. American Journal of Human Biology, 36(6), e24055.
  8. Aleksandra Wesołowska & Magdalena Babiszewska-Aksamit edit. 2023 scientific monograph: “Karmienie niemowląt I małych dzieci w sytuacjach kryzysowych”(ang. Feeding infants and young children in crisis situations)
  9. Apanasewicz, A., Danel, D. P., Piosek, M., Wychowaniec, P., Babiszewska-Aksamit, M., & Ziomkiewicz, A. (2022). Maternal childhood trauma is associated with offspring body size during the first year of life. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 19619.
  10. Ziomkiewicz, A., Babiszewska, M., Apanasewicz, A., Piosek, M., Wychowaniec, P., Cierniak, A., ... & Wichary, S. (2021). Psychosocial stress and cortisol stress reactivity predict breast milk composition. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-14.
  11. Ziomkiewicz, A., Apanasewicz, A., Danel, D. P., Babiszewska, M., Piosek, M., & Orczyk-Pawiłowicz, M. (2021). Maternal distress and social support are linked to human milk immune properties. Nutrients, 13(6), 1857.
  12. Babiszewska, M. (2020). Effects of energy and essential fatty acids content in breast milk on infant's head dimensions. American Journal of Human Biology, 32(6), e23418.
  13. Apanasewicz, A., Groth, D., Scheffler, C., Hermanussen, M., Piosek, M., Wychowaniec, P., ... & Ziomkiewicz, A. (2020). Traumatized women’s infants are bigger than children of mothers without traumas. Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 77(5), 359-374.