GOLD Lactation Conference News
Author: Dr Virginia Thorley, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA
My presentation at GOLD 14 will raise awareness of breastfeeding as essential, not just an option like magnesium wheels on a car. In car terms it is the engine and chassis and more. Breastfeeding is important, both exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and with complementary foods after that. (1,2)
In 2004 Chen and Rogan published a paper identifying the number of deaths of United States infants through lack of breastfeeding.(3) Their paper provided evidence that breastfeeding can save lives in the developed world, not just in resource-poor countries. Yet we constantly see a false sense of security among health workers who provide bottles and artificial infant milk, and the community at large, in the belief that artificial is always intrinsically safe in industrial countries. They are oblivious of the possible implications of not breastfeeding. (4)
Infant survival, the lack of which provides a shocking measure, is not the only way breastfeeding saves babies, because food security and protection against infection and other ailments make a huge difference to health and wellbeing in infancy and through life.
Disasters and their aftermaths are fresh in the memories of all of you, wherever you live. You may have been affected. Examples include the massive Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines hurricane; the earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear emergency in Japan; cyclones in the Bay of Bengal; Cyclones Larry and Yasi and unrelated serious floods in Australia; devastating bushfires in several Australian states; and hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in the United States.
A resource-rich region can suddenly become devoid of the resources that are taken for granted.(5) Some of the factors that may affect the artificially-fed infant’s food security are:
- Dependence on transport of manufactured infant milks from afar, whether in industrialized or resource-poor settings (disruptable by extreme weather, industrial action and natural disasters)
- Dependence on electricity or other fuel for boiling the water and cleaning equipment (Long power disruptions have been experienced in the US, New Zealand and Australia, even without a natural disaster.)
- Lack of refrigeration
- Dependence on water of questionable quality for reconstituting the ‘formula’ and washing hands and utensils (Any of the above emergencies can affect urban water supply.)
- Lack of support and privacy for the mother who is partly breastfeeding to increase her milk yield, or the mother who is exclusively using formula milk to relactate or access a wet-nurse or donor milk
- Donated formula supplies that undermine breastfeeding so that it soon ceases.(6)
Other emergencies at personal or local level also put infants at risk if they are artificially fed or fed breastmilk exclusively by bottle. My presentation will give examples of these scenarios as well.
Dr. Vrginia Thorely will be presenting her topic at this year's Lactation Conference titled "Breastfeeding can't save lives today – or can it? ". Learn more about Virginia's presentation by clicking here.
(1)World Health Organization/ UNICEF. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: WHO, 2003.
(2)National Health and Medical Research Council. Eat for health: infant feeding guidelines: information for health workers. Canberra: NHMRC, 2012,
(3)Chen A, Rogan WJ. Breastfeeding and the risk of postneonatal death in the United States. Pediatrics 2004; 113: e435-e439.
(4)Spatz DL, Lessen R. Risks of not breastfeeding. Morrisville, NC: International Lactation Consultant Association, 2011.
(5)Gribble KD, Berry NJ. Emergency preparedness for those who care for infants in developed country contexts. International Breastfeeding Journal 2011; 691); 16. doi: 10.1186/1746-4358-6-16
(6) Commission on the Status of Women. Disasters: where does breastfeeding fit in? March 2000. http://www,ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3733 Accessed 13 October 2012.
