All the visual and written info about the Katrina children and moms has made
me very emotional and I want to HELP.but I am not able to go down South,
though I would love to. So what else can I do? I have chosen to let my
fingers do the walking by writing on LACTNET and privately, and by making
phone calls to and e-mailing relief organizations. It doesn't matter to me
who is receiving my messages; it could be men as well as women, young as
well as old, poor as well as rich, and different races, creeds, etc. The
bottom line is: get the idea out that there is another item that can help
save those children. What is that? It's breastfeeding or, at least,
breastmilk.
So Barbara, go ahead and keep encouraging your son to speak to those women
about breastfeeding, and about how it is easy to do for newborns and even
possible, although harder, for older infants and toddlers. THEIR LIVES
DEPEND ON IT, as well as their HEALTH. If ever we LCs had an opportunity to
help others understand how important BF is, the time is now. Let's not
think about why we may not succeed as much as we would like; let's think
about how saving even one child is worth all our efforts. Yes, most of us
are busy and many are tired, but we can get the adrenaline going because it
is worth it.
Barbara, your son might be interested to know that men helping women
breastfeed is not so unusual. A few years ago, I remember reading about
male mail-carriers in South America being the ones to deliver breastfeeding
literature to pregnant women, along with their mail. In many areas it would
be handed to the women and the men were trained to be able to discuss BF
management and answer the women's questions. Of course, I laugh to think of
my mailman being asked to do that.
So let's go, my fellow LACTNETTERS. Let's keep doing whatever we can to
help. Let's not defeat ourselves by thinking it is not going to work or
nobody will listen; somebody might. If we don't try, nobody can. Below is
info that might help in the trenches. It is a short press release from LLLI
that can be carried around and copies given out where appropriate. You know
what I've said before: Time is of the essence! We have to do it NOW. Good
luck!
Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Specialist
NY State
When an Emergency Strikes, Breastfeeding Can Save Lives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2005 (Schaumburg, IL). When an emergency occurs, such as the
recent Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, breastfeeding saves lives.
Breastfeeding protects babies from the risks of a contaminated water supply.
It provides protection against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea - diseases
that can be fatal in populations displaced by disaster.
The basics of breastfeeding during an emergency are much the same as they
are in normal times. Continuing to breastfeed whenever the baby seems hungry
maintains a mother's milk supply and provides familiar comfort. The release
of hormones while a mother is breastfeeding relieves stress and anxiety, and
is calming to both mother and baby.
IF A MOTHER HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH
If it is within even five days of the birth, a mother can have a full milk
supply quickly by putting the baby to the breast immediately and
breastfeeding the baby every two hours or more frequently. [If the newborn
is a few weeks old, it may take a little bit longer.]
Breastmilk is 87% water, so the mother should drink to thirst as much as
possible. Drinking too much water is not recommended as the mother will be
uncomfortable and no additional milk will be produced.
RELACTATION INFORMATION
If a mother has not just recently given birth, but it is.months after the
birth, she can relactate by putting baby to the breast [even if she never
breastfed], or by expressing the breastmilk, every two hours. Initially she
may be producing only drops per day. Her milk will increase by about one
ounce every 24 hours. Mother then decreases the amount of formula, or
donated human milk from another mother, by about one ounce a day. The
younger the baby, the [easier] it will be to establish a full milk supply.
For more information on breastfeeding during an emergency, check out this
page on the La Leche League website at www.lalecheleague.org/emergency.html
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Lee%20Galasso\My%20Documents\Lee\www.
lalecheleague.org\emergency.html>
La Leche League Leaders are trained community volunteers who answer
questions about breastfeeding. To contact an LLL Leader in the US, go to:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html or call 1-800 LA LECHE, Option 4.
Since 1956 La Leche League International, a nonprofit organization now in
over 60 countries, has helped mothers worldwide to breastfeed through
mother-to-mother support, encouragement, and education.
Contact Information: Mary Lofton, [log in to unmask] at (847) 519-7730, ext.
271 or Mary Hurt, [log in to unmask], ext. 286 or Katy Lebbing,
[log in to unmask] ext. 245. After hours, call: 1- 630-710-0247.
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