This year, World Breastfeeding Week has a theme. No, it's not "best of Mardi Gras." (Nice try, GGW!)It's "In Emergencies, Breastfeeding Is A Lifeline."
From the WBW press release:
When an emergency strikes, simple measures can make all the difference in the world. Emergency preparedness is the key to quick appropriate actions. Mothers need to be secure and have priority access to food for the family, water, shelter and safe places to breastfeed.
Does it seems strange to you about the "emergency" thing? Actually, it's not. The World Health Organization estimates that breastfeeding could save 1.3 million lives annually worldwide. The WHO also claims that only about 40 percent of babies are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, possibly because they don't get support through the rough patches.
When it comes to doing it practically, they don't have the practical support.
However, I would argue that in industrialized societies such as our that do not have mandatory maternity leave, it is the pressure of the working world that makes women abandon breastfeeding. The United States simply does not support breastfeeding women and their families. It's not necessarily a lactation consultant that many women need; it is the support of the corporate working world to help them pump in a stress-free environment. (And after, say, a year's maternity leave?)
(Of course, I'll state right here that I'm not naïve enough to believe that we'll hit a 100% breastfeeding rate simply because companies offer a nursing room. Some families simply choose not to breastfeed. I've met these people. They exist; they are real.)
That all said, one of the "emergencies" in which the WHO considers breastfeeders helpful is the very familiar swine flu pandemic. No, I'm not suggesting breastmilk is a cure for swine flu. But for many of us who are hesitant to vaccinate our families with a brand new, barely-tested shot, breastfeeding can help us boost the immune system of our little ones.
Also, pregnant women are at the top of the list for swine flu shot recommendations. This is for two reasons:
1) Pregnant women as a population have been harder hit that the overall population by this virus. Of the 45 original deaths in America from swine flu, 6 were pregnant women. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it is 13 times higher than the population overall proportionally.
2) Teeny tiny babies can't be vaccinated from this, so health officials are counting on pregnant women to get the shot, which will supposedly pass on immunity to their unborn children.
I am absolutely not suggesting you get this shot, pregnant women. I am simply stating the CDC's facts. If you are one of those preggos considering it, I strongly urge you to hunt down a thimerosal-free version, whatever the cost!
And if you're one of those who will opt out of the swine flu shot, how can breastfeeding help your little one?
The WHO recommends that babies start breastfeeding within one hour of their birth, and ingest only breast milk for the first six months, avoiding water and other drinks and foods.
This can give children vital nutrients and strengthen their immune system to fight diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia. Formula milk does not provide the same immunity and local water can be contaminated or unsafe in many parts of the world.
Raising to 90 percent the global breastfeeding rate for infants to six months would save an estimated 13 percent of the 10 million under-age-5 deaths a year.
While it will absolutely not cure a child of swine flu, you can help their little immune systems. Which is utterly important for the 6 months and under crowd, even if you and the rest of your family gets vaccinated.
World Breastfeeding Week has the rationale of emergency breastfeeding as:
- Children are the most vulnerable in emergencies – child mortality can soar from 2 to 70 times higher than average due to diarrhea, respiratory illness and malnutrition.
- Breastfeeding is a life-saving intervention and protection is greatest for the youngest infants. Even in non-emergency settings, non-breastfed babies under 2 months of age are six times more likely to die.
- Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world. Emergencies destroy what is ‘normal,’ leaving caregivers struggling to cope and infants vulnerable to disease and death.
- During emergencies, mothers need active support to continue or re-establish breastfeeding.
- Emergency preparedness is vital. Supporting breastfeeding in non-emergency settings will strengthen mothers’ capacity to cope in an emergency.
So how has breastfeeding had a real-world impact in the case of emergency? The "emergency" theme reminds me of two stories:
Over a year ago, after the Chinese earthquake, a policewoman and mother breastfed orphaned babies in the disaster zone. At one point, she was breastfeeding 9 babies. Five of them were newly orphaned and adopted. Others, the mamas bodies were so taxed by the trauma that they couldn't produce milk. Jiang Xiaojuan said that any mother would have done the same. I like to think she's right.
Isn't that amazing? It was one of those stories that completely warmed my heart. I got shivers and tears in my eyes, even rereading the story today.
The other story was an "emergency" in the first world: right in Michigan. Maybe these women were inspired by the heroic Chinese policewoman?
A mother died of a rare condition shortly after giving birth. A family friend organized a group of breastfeeders to nurse baby Moses Goodrich. They did this every few hours, pumping for overnights. Daddy Robbie Goodrich has been utterly impressed and thankful for these women:
That’s when it clicked in my head. I wanted the baby to be nursed. That’s something that Susan would have wanted...
They would do it for anyone because they believe in this. They didn’t take it lightly and they don’t miss a day. It’s commitment, passion - it’s love. It’s an act of love.
It breaks your heart at the same time it inspires, doesn't it?
I wrote a follow-up story on Eco Child's Play last week: Baby Moses is now 6 months old, and is still breastfeeding.
These mothers just wanted to help a grieving family, so they offered what they could: breastmilk, a mother's heartbeat, and skin-to-skin contact. It's so touching.
So many mamas, breastfeeding or not, are superheroes. These stories simply stand out in the sense of community, duty, and love of children.
If you're interested in becoming a breastmilk donor, check out MilkShare. Incidentally, I met some of my favorite Nature's Child readers through this donation site. (But you're all my favorites, really!;) There, you can link to a family locally or ship out your extra liquid gold. Because even in America, there are babies and families who need breastmilk!
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