Infant feeding in emergencies
In the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster, the world responded in an unprecedented outpouring of relief. One of the very first items reported on the list of emergency supplies being shipping to the devastated area was infant formula. This was despite the fact that in emergency situations, breastfeeding protection is more critical than at any other time. The donation and use of infant formulas may actually increase malnutrition, diarrheal disease and death. Which is why the World Health Organization recommends,
In emergencies, breastfeeding is the optimal and safest feeding method. The 47th World Health Assembly urges Member States "to exercise extreme caution when planning, implementing or supporting emergency relief operations, by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding for infants." World Health Assembly Resolution 47.5 (1994)
The situation in southeast Asia is a classic example of how infant formula can stand in the way of healthy infant feeding practices and grant deceptive endorsement to formula feeding as a safe means to feed infants. As Dr. Anahit Demirchian, Chief of National Programme of Promotion and Protection of Breastfeeding in Armenia reported in response to the 1996 Armenia earthquake, "Our maternity hospitals were flooded with breastmilk substitutes brought in by humanitarian aid agencies. This nearly destroyed our breastfeeding programmes."
In situations where infants are orphaned, where mothers are ill and unable to breastfeed, or choose not to breastfeed, other feeding options may be needed. In order of preference these are:
1. Mothers own expressed breastmilk
2. Wet-nursing
3. Locally available milks suitable for older infants and young children
4. Locally purchased infant formulas may be used if conditions permit safe preparation use and storage.
For more information about infant and young child feeding in emergencies see: Interagency Working Group on Infant Feeding in Emergencies at
http://www.ennonline.net International Lactation Consultant Association Position in Infant Feeding in Emergencies at http://www.ilca.org/news
Myths about breastfeeding in emergencies
Myth 1:
Malnourished mothers cannot breastfeed In virtually all cases, a sub-optimally nourished mother can breastfeed her child. The important response is to feed the mother so that she can feed her child. It is far safer and more effective to provide nutritional support for the mother than to risk her infant’s health by feeding breastmilk substitutes. Mothers in these situations need help and support to enable them to breastfeed.Myth 2: Stress makes a mother’s milk dry up Although extreme stress or fear may temporarily reduce a mother’s milk supply, this response is often of short duration. On the other hand, breastfeeding produces hormones that have a calming effect on mother and baby and creates an inseparable bond between the mother and her child. There is virtually no abandonment of babies in emergency situations when mother and baby are breastfeeding and kept together.
Myth 3: Babies with diarrheal disease need water or tea Breastmilk contains about 90 per cent water. Exclusive breastfeeding provides all the water, nutrition and immunology a baby needs, without the risk of contamination. Feeding an infant water can introduce disease-causing bacteria and other contaminants, especially if safe water is scarce or unavailable. It is only in the case of severe diarrhea that infants may need rehydration .uids in addition to breastmilk.
Myth 4: Mothers cannot resume lactation once breastfeeding has stopped Mothers and babies can restart breastfeeding even after a period of not breastfeeding. Increased skin-to-skin contact and frequent access to the breast helps to increase milk supply and enables mothers to resume full breastfeeding. This can be critical for babies during emergencies.
"Myths about breastfeeding in emergencies" is adapted from the IBFAN booklet, "Infant Feeding in Emergencies" and is available at
www.ibfan.org.