Unfortunately in this sometimes volatile world we live in, we may become subjected to the impact of a devastating natural or man-made disaster. Hurricanes, extended power outages, tornadoes, earthquakes and acts of terror are becoming far too common. In these instances there may be a total breakdown of normalcy, compromised public health and safety, and poor or nonexistence clean water and food supplies. With the safety and survival of your family at the forefront of everything in these situations – breastfeeding mothers have an added advantage.
Breastfeeding is the only feeding choice that provides uninterrupted, safe, nutrition for your growing infant or toddler during a disaster situation. Infants and small children are the most vulnerable to diarrhea, infectious disease and dehydration; common conditions that can result in increased mortality risk, which can manifest due to challenges to maintaining sanitation and the result of close living quarters and make-shift shelters and hospitals that are prevalent during disaster situations.
Consider this – even during times of physical and emotional stress, nursing moms can maintain an adequate milk supply to nourish their child. This was once debatable. But now proven to be true.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are numerous benefits to breastfeeding during a disaster situation:
- Human milk is nutritionally perfect.
- It is readily available without depending on feeding supplies.
- It protects against infectious disease, especially diarrhea and respiratory illnesses.
- It is always the right temperature, and helps to prevent hypothermia.
- The release of hormones during breastfeeding relieves a mom’s stress and anxiety.
Now if you find that you need to express your milk, and their is a loss of power, you can do so manually. However, if you want to prepare for the need to express your milk during a disaster using your electric breast pump; ensure that you have the proper batteries as part of the battery stores in your family’s emergency preparedness kit. As well, you should have sterile cleansing products that accompany your brand of breast pump. Even though expressing and storing your milk under these conditions is far from ideal, but if you have too, be sure to place the milk on ice as soon as possible, or follow the temperature storage guidelines for times when immediate refrigeration is not an option.
Who knows, you may become an unsung hero and pull a Salma Hayek. Nursing or milk-sharing to help rescue a deserving baby whose mom opted to formula feed and has no access to clean water, bottles, and/or formula to feed her child.
I am hopeful that by reading this, you begin the all too important dialogue with your family as to how to best prepare for an emergency scenario. These that could turn your life upside down. Its hard to imagine that these catastrophic events can and do occur. It’s even more difficult to consider your family having to endure such an event. However, I am hopefully that those of us who plan and prepare, will likely emerge triumphant and unscathed.
Not sure who said this, but “those who fail to plan, plan to fail”, and this adage most certainly rings true in the case of emergency preparedness planning for your family.
Breastfeeding during disasters saves lives. So moms, we have yet another reason to be proud of our choice to provide our children with the best nutrition possible – breast milk, the ultimate gift of love and life.
Stay Health and Wise!
Ericka L. Abrams, Public Health Practitioner
