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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
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Tue, 2 Nov 1999 07:26:17 EST
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Ruth,
WHO has an article on their website about infant feeding in emergencies.

http://www.who.dk/tech/nutemg.htm

LINKAGES has a document called Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.
 Inquire at

 [log in to unmask]

At the LLLI conference this summer, there was a great session on the topic,
covering both natural disasters like Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua and
Honduras, and refugee/relief situations like famines in Somalia and refugees
of wars like Kosovo.  Some of the same relief principles apply to the failure
of power and utility systems that are considered a possibility at Y2K.

1.  The emergency response system---fire, police, National Guard, Red
Cross---need to be educated about breastfeeding BEFORE the disaster.

2.  They must know that any woman who gives birth to a baby during a disaster
must be helped to put the baby to breast, both to control her own postpartum
blood loss and to provide the safest warmth and food for the baby.  They must
know that any women who recently gave birth or recently weaned can and should
relactate.  Her baby should basically be kept at breast, coaxed to latch on,
and fed at the breast or by cup on the safest available breastmilk substitute
(which might be unprocessed donor milk, formula, or diluted cows' milk---the
mom has to make her own decision about what is the safest).

3.  Disaster situations always last longer than you think they are going to.
Look at Eastern North Carolina---still having difficulties getting safe
formula-feeding six weeks after Hurricane Floyd.

4.  For people living in shelters, the people in charge should know which
women have children under a year old.  A nursing mother is a wonderful
resource, since she may be able to help another woman sustain lactation or
relactate.  She is also a resource because she (unique among all the other
refugees) is *producing* food.  She is a possible donor for babies who can't
get other safe food.  The women with young children should have a mother
support group available, and if there are trained breastfeeding counselors in
the shelter or available to visit the shelter, they can run it.

What really impressed me about this session at LLLI was realizing the great
*value* of a breastfeeding/lactating woman.  When all the "stuff" we count on
to support our consumerist lifestyle is suddenly gone, who still has what she
needs to take care of her baby?  a nursing mother!

A report of the LLL sessions will soon be available by email.  I'll let
LACTNET know when it is ready.

Chris Mulford

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