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World Breastfeeding Week
Breastfeeding - A Vital Emergency Response. Are you Ready?
August 1 - 7, 2009
World Breastfeeding Week 2009 draws attention to the importance of breastfeeding during every kind of emergency. Pediatricians need to be informed of how to protect and promote breastfeeding both before and during an emergency.
The AAP has developed:
Pediatricians can support families during an emergency by:
- Keeping families TOGETHER.
- Advocating for breastfeeding with relief agencies.
- Creating safe havens for families.
- Reassuring mothers that human milk contributes significant nutrition for the first year of life and beyond.
- Advocating for optimal feeding options for orphaned infants, including HIV negative donor milk.
- Assisting new mothers to breastfeed immediately after birth and advocating for exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4, but preferably 6 months.
- Providing support for breastfeeding through assessment of hydration and nutritional status.
- Assuring mothers that all routine vaccines that may be necessary during an emergency are safe for the lactating woman.
- Referring to www.cdc.gov for information on diseases and treatment of lactating women.
- If human milk is not available and formula is necessary, recommending ready-to-feed. Powdered formula should be the last resort.
Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by telling someone about the importance of breastfeeding during an emergency. Learn more about the AAP and disaster preparedness
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