Red Cross #FAIL

Every time there is a natural disaster, breastfeeding advocates will step up to remind everyone how important it is to protect breastfeeding in order to save lives. Inevitably lots and lots of formula donations will roll in and it always causes problems. We saw it after the tsunami in 2004, when breastfeeding rates plummeted and young children died of diarrhea. The same thing happened after the floods in Pakistan, and formula donations to Haiti after the earthquake contributed to infant and child death, especially after the cholera outbreak.

And yet this is the image the Red Cross has decided to use to garner donations for Japan?

I guess they assume the image of an infant being bottle-fed will tug on the heartstrings? I do understand that there are some babies whose mothers may be dead or missing or were already bottle-feeding (although most women breastfeed in Japan), but this image is inappropriate. This reinforces the myth that breastfeeding is not sustainable during disaster and encourages formula donations when the emphasis should be on protecting breastfeeding. I can't believe the Red Cross doesn't know better.


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How to Help Haiti

I've been talking a lot the past few days, with anyone who will listen, about how to help in Haiti. In my city, and probably yours, too, various organizations, radio stations, churches and synagogues are asking for donations to send to Haiti. Everyone's heart is in the right place, but if you want to help the people of Haiti and the relief efforts there, it is best to send money. That is the message from the Red Cross and President Bill Clinton, who is the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti. So if you can, donate money. The easiest way to do this is to text "haiti" to 90999 on your cell phone, which will donate $10 to Red Cross.

I'm also noticing that people are asking for donations of infant formula to be sent to Haiti. Infant formula is not appropriate in emergency situations. Please tell your friends and family members not to send infant formula to Haiti. Artificial feeding increases the risk of infection, disease and death during an emergency. Donations of infant formula to areas hit by natural disasters has also led to decreased breastfeeding in the past. Mothers who are perfectly capable of breastfeeding will often stop and begin using formula when it is provided during emergencies. According to a study by UNICEF , 42% of infants were fed formula after the earthquake in Indonesia, compared to 27% pre-quake. People who send infant formula to Haiti are well-meaning, but misguided. Please explain to them that this is a dangerous practice. For more information on breastfeeding during emergencies, please see this World Health Organization podcast or the International Lactation Consultant Association's position paper on this issue. 




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