Breastfeeding During Emergencies
When an emergency or natural disaster occurs, it can feel overwhelming and stressful, especially when resources are limited. During these challenging times, breastfeeding is the safest and most reliable way to feed and care for your baby. It provides vital nutrition, hydration, protection from infections, and emotional comfort in times of uncertainty. This guide is here to offer the support and information you need to understand the crucial role breastfeeding plays during emergencies, helping ensure your baby remains healthy and well-nourished when it matters most.
Why Breastfeeding is Important
Breast milk is not only the ideal food for your baby—it can also be lifesaving in times of disaster.1,2,3 Here’s why:
- Perfect nutrition: Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby, offering the right balance of nutrients and hydration. It can help your baby stay safe and healthy, especially when access to clean water or food may be limited.
- Protection From Illness: Your milk contains powerful antibodies that help protect your baby from infections and illnesses, which is especially important if medical care is not readily available.
- Comfort and Security: In stressful times, breastfeeding offers emotional support and comfort. The hormones released while breastfeeding help reduce stress and anxiety, providing a sense of calm and security for both you and your baby.
- Convenience: Breastfeeding is always available, requires no preparation, and doesn’t need special equipment, which is essential in an emergency situation.
Breastfeeding in an Emergency
During an emergency, it’s important to keep things as simple and safe as possible. Here are some key guidelines for breastfeeding in an emergency:4,5,6,7,8,9
- Seek Shelter and Stay Together: Your safety and your baby’s safety are the top priorities. First, make sure you are both in a safe place and not separated so that you can continue breastfeeding. This helps your baby stay hydrated, nourished, and healthy, even in stressful situations.
- Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Taking care of yourself is key to being able to care for your baby. Drink plenty of water, eat what you can, and rest when possible. If regular meals are hard to manage, focusing on hydration will help maintain your milk supply.
- Direct Breastfeeding is Safest: This option doesn’t require bottles, formula, or other feeding supplies, which may be hard to clean or find during an emergency. Direct breastfeeding is always the safest and easiest way to nourish your baby.
- If You Need to Pump: If you’re unable to breastfeed directly, pumping or hand expression can help maintain your milk supply. In the event of a power outage, battery-operated pumps, manual pumps, or hand expression are practical options for expressing milk.
- Cup Feeding is Preferred: If your baby needs supplemental feeding during an emergency, cup feeding is a safer choice than bottle feeding. It doesn’t require bottles or nipples, which may be difficult to sanitize.
- Be Aware of Hygiene and Cleanliness: In some emergencies, you may not have access to clean water or sanitation, but you can still breastfeed safely. Wash your hands whenever possible, and do your best to keep yourself and your breastfeeding space clean.
- If Supplementation is Needed: If your baby cannot breastfeed directly, mother’s own expressed milk is the preferred option. Next is donor milk from another breastfeeding mother. If neither of these is available, ready-to-use formula is the safest choice in an emergency, as it requires no mixing with water and can be fed immediately. Preparing concentrated liquid or powdered formula is particularly risky if there are concerns about water safety.
Given these challenges, breastfeeding during an emergency remains the safest and most reliable way to nourish your baby. It offers essential nourishment, protection from infections, and emotional comfort—all without the need for additional supplies that may be difficult to find in a crisis. Breastfeeding not only helps your baby stay safe and healthy, but it also provides a sense of calm and security during uncertain times.
What If I Have Questions?
If you are interested in learning more, these Aeroflow classes expand on some of the topics discussed above:
- Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep
- Pumping 101
To register for these classes, log into your portal or click here.
Want More Info?
For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:
Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical evaluation or consultation. Please seek advice from your own healthcare providers for individualized recommendations.
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