On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:15:43 -0500, Susan Burger [log in to unmask]
wrote:

 "I happen to beg to differ with the opinion that relactation is NOT
possible during emergency conditions.  UNICEF has developed some pretty
clear guidelines for the steps necessary to determine which mothers to
encourage and which steps to take..

Moreover it is quite important to encourage CUP FEEDING under these
circumstances rather than bottle feeding.  You can clean out a cup much
better than a bottle..

If I were stuck in some stadium with no clean water I would have no
hesitation going up to that mom of the three day old and saying something
along the lines of what Paula Meier's does with her moms of premies - that
this is life or death situation and if she hates breastfeeding she can stop
the instant she gets to someplace where the water is safe.

As for the pictures of the premie babies in the box, if I really could not
have convinced the emergencies workers to not separate mom and baby - I
would have at least made one of the emergency workers strip off his shirt
and wrapped as many babies as possible around his body to keep them warm."

Susan, I cut out some of what you wrote to keep my post short.  Sometimes it
is hard to realize what is possible unless someone is familiar with it and
knows what to do.  You are absolutely right.  When the hurricanes hit the
Gulf Coast, I called the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.  I
explained much of what you have written and encouraged both organizations to
inform their workers/volunteers to help the women realize what is important
for newborns, premies included, in such a situation.  My suggestions were
not only about breastfeeding but also about Kangaroo Care.  What they did
with the information I will never know but I hope it did some good.  It
broke my heart to see babies taken from their moms and airlifted from the
hospitals; I cannot imagine what the separation did to the moms AND the
babies.  Very, very sad.

Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC

Lactation Specialist

Westchester County in NY State

 


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