#YolandaPH : Yet Another Reason to Go Back to the Breast

Being able to breastfeed is equal to empowering all moms to feed a hungry baby at any time, no matter how worse the situation may be! I can only imagine how bad the situation in Yolanda-hit areas - still no electricity after more than a week since the brunt of the storm and almost all the establishments leveled - but I am sure that among the supplies quickly depleted is clean and potable water.  Such water plus clean feeding bottles are the among the things you need should you decide to formula feed.  Such may be difficult or in most cases, impossible to come by during emergency situations. This is the main reason why breastfeeding is the safest option, emergency or not.

The World Health Organization puts is in much simpler terms, " Infant formula usually needs to be mixed with water. When there isn’t sufficient safe water available, babies who drink it can get very sick".  

Moms with kids after Yolanda
Source of Photo: Unicef Philippines

I'm bothered because the news keeps showing moms and dads who scour the shelter areas for clean water to dilute infant formula.  On a recent report, a baby from Tacloban is treated for dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea after ingesting contaminated water.  According to a volunteer doctor, there is a threat for outbreak of water borne diseases like diarrhea and cholera because of the shortage of clean drinking water.


Latest statistics on breastfeeding show that only  27% - nearly 1 in 3 babies aged 6 months or younger is breastfed exclusively. This only shows how formula feeding is very much a norm in the Philippines. Hence the need to emphasize the goodness of going back to the breasts. Here are more reasons why breastfeeding is ideal during calamities.

Now there are concerns that mommy's breast milk supply might be affected by stress brought by such calamities, no less than the World Health Organization cleared up this myth. The WHO says it is still possible to nurse and nourish an infant, even under dire situations like these. The WHO also emphasized that moms who lack food can still produce enough breast milk to feed her infant.

Nursing moms can rely on their own bodies to feed her baby. She just needs extra support and reassurance from healthcare professionals and from the family. Breastfeeding is in deed a life saver, especially in the Philippines, where flooding and typhoons are a regular occurrence. The last thing families need during an emergency is to switch to formula milk. Having an established breast milk is like having an all-in-one meal and ready-to-eat meal any where babies go.

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