Pam said: <<I have been able to get some emergency breastfeeding information to my relative who is high up in FEMA. I have sent him the emergency instruction links from LLLI, Unicef, Ibfan, and Ilca . I don't know when or if it will ever make a difference, but at least ONE Fema person knows breastfeeding is important during emergencies and there are ways already in place to implement it! >> Great work, Pam! <<Question: At what point should information on breastfeeding during emergencies be given new mothers - at shelters, prenatally, at birth - when and where? >> There's a lot to think about, isn't there? Someone suggested that we need some new committee for this and I tend to agree (consider me a volunteer if so) For what it's worth I suggest a multi-pronged approach. When? Before, during and after. Where? Everywhere, LOL. Yes, at shelters. Yes, to all pregnant women (or at least all of those in their third trimester) in these crises, yes by ob-gyns as a normal part of their prenatal care ("You'll be having this baby during hurricane season. I urge you to consider breastfeeding at least until hurricane season is over.") Any woman in a disaster-area who has recently given birth should be urged, by anyone in a position to care for or help her, to put her baby to breast. Press releases should be put out by EOC's (emergency operations centers and the like) beforehand if there is advance notice of the potential catastrophe. In Miami certain press releases are put out as a storm approaches, advising people on how to prepare. One of those should be about breastfeeding. Those same press releases can be re-released after the crisis or storm hits. Posters should be produced to be posted at shelters with basic breastfeeding information and phone numbers to call for help. Media outlets are usually very cooperative in giving their time and attention to the "official" recommendations of emergency management folks. That's why we need "officials" inside these organizations - because then we'll get the media to put out stories about women being urged to breastfeed. That will spread the word, quickly. <<Who should do it? Heath professionals, Red Cross, etc.?>> My ideal is that IBCLCs & other willing volunteers (PCs, LLL Leaders) are on the scene working in teams, but I would imagine that Red Cross volunteers & officials should get some basic training on breastfeeding as well. <<There is a pamphlet put out by Red Cross and Fema that outlines ways to prepare for a disaster - no mention of breastfeeding. If they would include one sentence, "Breastmilk alone can sustain your baby for about the first six months" it might make a difference.>> Yup. ITA. <<I agree that what breastfeeding mothers need most at shelters is a quiet, private place where support and information can be given, ideally from a lactation consultant! Just a place where they could gather and support each other would be SOOO beneficial.>> Sounds serene - that would be wonderful for them. Hey - wouldn't it be great if LLL held a group "meeting" at shelters? Perhaps the meeting series could be adapted for the situation, and the entire series (is it still 4? I retired several years ago, lol) done over the course of 4 days in the shelters, instead of 4 months..... Regina Roig-Lane, BS IBCLC for Miami-Dade County WIC (786) 336-1333 x151 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html