Given the existance of evidence showing how dangerous formula feeding is in
an emergency it would be medical negligence to include infant formula in a
pack for pregnant women. What they might like to consider is including
information on baby led attachment- including diagrams. Kathy Kendall
Tackett gave me a lovely case history from Hurricane Katrina in which a
young woman stuck in an attic for 3 days gave birth with her family
providing assistance (cord cut with a broken bottle for eg). This mother had
had no intention of breastfeeding but holding her baby between her breasts
the baby bobbed, bob, bob and self attached. This mum and baby were in
perfect health when rescued. The health dept shoudl be considering that a
woman giving birth in an emergency situation may not have access to medical
care. In such situations immediate breastfeeding can be lifesaving for the
mother in assisting in preventing excessive bleeding. This information
should also be included in their packs.
I was recently given another case history from Hurricane Katrina. A mother
stuck for 5 days on a roof with her 2 week old formula fed baby. The infant
was hospitalised on evacuation but died. Afterwards the mother sought
assistance for her sore and engorged breasts. She had milk but did not
consider breastfeeding when her infant had no longer access to infant
formula.
The health deot should also consider that for artificially fed infants in
emergencies much more than formula is required. Clean water (for
constituting feeds, washing hands and feeding implements), a stove for
heating water for cleaning and constituting feeds, fuel, and medical
supervision are all required.
Please let us know how you go with this.
BTW. my presentation on infant feeding in emergencies shoudl be available on
the net very shortly for free viewing. I'll let you all know when it is.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Brooks" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 2:17 AM
Subject: emergency preparedness and formula


> Ack!  Any woman who finds herself delivering a baby, under an emergency or
> disaster scenario, shouldn't be going anywhere
> near formula!  The public health and disaster preparedness folks have it
> Bass-Ackwards if they are thinking about adding
> formula  to the "kit" for the emergency-birth-mom.  She is actually
> "lucky"
> in that skin-to-skin and BF are all the baby needs --
> and in the chaotic setting of an emergency, the mother's ability to
> provide
> everything her newborn needs may well be life-saving.
> "Not enough water" to mix formula is the very least of it!
>
> This year's World Breastfeeeding Week theme is about preparation for
> disasters -- IBFAN and ILCA both will have materials available
> (some free; some for purchase) to provide to first-responders, to help
> them
> understand that supporting and promoting breastfeeding
> *before* as well as during a disaster helps save lives.   Distributing
> formula does NOT.  (Lactnet's own Karleen Gribble gave a compelling
> presentation on this topic at a recent, excellent online conference.)
> --
> Liz Brooks JD IBCLC (ILCA Secy 2005-2011)
> Wyndmoor, PA, USA
>
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