Infant Feeding During Disasters
Published: July 31, 2013
Why breastfeeding during disasters matters:• It cannot be put on ‘hold’ until the disaster is over. It can be impacted if stopped for even a short period of time.
• It protects infants from the risks of using contaminated water supplies during a disaster
• It can help protect against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea, which can be fatal for displaced families
• Breast milk is available all the time without needing other supplies
Barriers to breastfeeding during a disaster:
• Lack of lactation support, whether it is a new mother, or a mother who has just weaned a baby
• Being away from home - displaced or having to relocate
• Being separated from family and other people who usually support the mother
• Lack of privacy, security, comfort, dim lights, and quiet in emergency shelters
• Lack of lactation support, whether it is a new mother, or a mother who has just weaned a baby
• Being away from home - displaced or having to relocate
• Being separated from family and other people who usually support the mother
• Lack of privacy, security, comfort, dim lights, and quiet in emergency shelters
Benefits of breastfeeding:
• Reduces risk of ovarian and breast cancer and type 2 diabetes for breastfeeding mothers
• Reduces risk of SIDS, lower respiratory infections, type 2 diabetes, asthma, obesity for breastfed infants
• Breastfed infants have fewer illnesses so their mothers miss less time from work
• There is less trash and plastic waste compared to formula and bottle supplies
• Communities can save $13 billion annually and prevent 1,000 deaths a year by promoting breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life
• Reduces risk of ovarian and breast cancer and type 2 diabetes for breastfeeding mothers
• Reduces risk of SIDS, lower respiratory infections, type 2 diabetes, asthma, obesity for breastfed infants
• Breastfed infants have fewer illnesses so their mothers miss less time from work
• There is less trash and plastic waste compared to formula and bottle supplies
• Communities can save $13 billion annually and prevent 1,000 deaths a year by promoting breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life
How responders can help:
• Ensure access to healthcare providers with lactation experience
• Create safe locations for pregnant and breastfeeding women
• Assure mothers that breastfeeding can provide sufficient nutrition for their babies when other foods aren’t available.
• Keep families together
• Provide water and food for breastfeeding mothers
• Give ready-to-use infant formula in a disposable cup as an alternative of last result
• Ensure access to healthcare providers with lactation experience
• Create safe locations for pregnant and breastfeeding women
• Assure mothers that breastfeeding can provide sufficient nutrition for their babies when other foods aren’t available.
• Keep families together
• Provide water and food for breastfeeding mothers
• Give ready-to-use infant formula in a disposable cup as an alternative of last result
References:
•2011 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding:http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/index.html
•American Academy of Pediatrics Infant Feeding During a Disaster:http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/files/pdf/InfantNutritionDisaster.pdf
•La Leche League International: http://www.llli.org/faq/emergency.html
•2011 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding:http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/index.html
•American Academy of Pediatrics Infant Feeding During a Disaster:http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/files/pdf/InfantNutritionDisaster.pdf
•La Leche League International: http://www.llli.org/faq/emergency.html
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