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. *********************************************** 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