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From August 1-7, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and its advocates in more than 150 countries will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. This association is working to protect breastfeeding from inappropriate marketing influences. What does this mean? In many third world countries women are given free baby formula but without clean water to mix it with it becomes a dangerous formula indeed. In the event of a natural disaster and related emergencies breast milk is the only source of safe and secure nutrition for babies and young children. Breast milk is always ready, always warm, always sterile always nutritious and never runs out. There was a case here in Oregon a few years ago that highlighted this need. A family on a road trip in winter took a wrong turn on an unmarked road and ended up stranded and snowbound. The mother was breastfeeding her infant which saved the infants life. She was also able to nurse her older toddler as well. Both children lived from the lifesaving nutrition provided by the breast milk.To read more about the Kim family go here: breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2006/12/breastfeeding_h.html Tragically Mr Kim lost his life in this misadventure, the good news is his children lived for the simple reason their mother was breastfeeding.
Breast milk not only provides safe and nutritious food for an infant anywhere in the world it also provides much need protection from disease. After checking the following link, which provides breastfeeding benefits from top to bottom, I believe you'll understand just how important breastfeeding is for your baby www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t020300.asp. Then of course there is an equal benefit for the breastfeeding mothers www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug01p124.html. La Leche International provides support and education to mothers all over the world. You can find a local chapter of the LaLeche league here www.llli.org/Web/Oregon.html. There are groups and leaders, lactation experts all around the Portland Metro area and in fact almost anywhere in Oregon that are there to help,educate and support the breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding Awareness in fact lasts all month. A great time to celebrate to miracle of life and the milk that sustains life.
Breastfeeding is critical in times of natural disaster and emergencies. Being aware of violations to the International Code of Marketing of breast milk substitutes. Donations of breast milk substitutes, bottles and nipples should not be accepted in the event of an emergencies. Find out more about what you can do by consulting the WBW 2009 action folder. Providing support and guidance to a new mother might be all she needs to be empowered to give her baby the gift of mother's milk. It can make a huge difference in a child's life.
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