NATIONAL
Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association 1-800-313-6141
La Leche League 1-877-4-LALECHE
National Women’s Health Helpline 1-800-994-9662
Florida
Commonsense Childbirth (Orlando Midwife Jennie Joseph) 407-656-6938
- Rapidly assess every family with young children for their feeding needs
- Display a welcoming attitude to breastfeeding, including supportive signage
- Keep parents with their children & prioritize access to food and water for pregnant and lactating women
- Create parent-baby spaces where parents can care for their children & to centralize supports
- Do not distribute infant formula without assessment & referral to support
- Sequester all related donations so that they cannot cause inadvertent harm
- Orient to IYCF-E guidance and training if unfamiliar
- Assess all dyads for feeding changes following the disaster
- Advocate for supports to exclusive breastfeeding and safe preparation areas
- Refer for breastfeeding support and/or specialist assessment for mixed or formula-feeding families
- Dispel myths surrounding breastfeeding during emergencies
- Give cash donations to organizations who have the capacity and training to provide evidence-based, community-grounded support to expectant and new families
- Never donate foods or feeding items specifically intended for children under age 3, including formula, bottles or pumps
- Ask every organization you donate to what their policy on IYCF-E is
- Journalists have an important role in helping to protect infants in emergencies
- Remind audiences that human milk is a safe and reliable food
- Appeals for donations of infant formula and feeding supplies hamper relief efforts on the ground
- Experts are available to support