Haiti - F*****g Nestle is at it already.

[foxytocin]

here now what can I do about it?

That is depressing

I put these links on another thread today...which highlights the dangers to babies of blanket donations of formula in emergency situations, especially where clean water is scare.Articles

Watching this thread for developments.

there will be plenty of newly orphaned babies and orphanages that will be greatful for it i suppose.

i have no problem with it at all.

The other mumsnet thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/893917?pagingOff=1#18225166

jeeeez. and i have just read 'the politics of breastfeeding' TODAY.

I have no problem with it either

bamboobutton, Without clean water, the donated formula will cause more illness and in some cases will led to the death of some babies which would of lived if wet nursing or continuance of breastfeeding had occurred.

I don't mind so much the donation of water- that really is a humanitarian need.
They should know by now what the codes say about formula donations to crisis situations.

But where are all these wet nurses meant to come from? I know nestle are generally arses, but what else are people there meant to do?

that link says milk, not powder, suggesting to me ready made formula.

Any breastfeedign mothere could wet nurses.

Just wondering what the natural breastfeeding figures are for Haiti ?

Mothers and grandmothers can re lactate to nurse their children who are currently formula feed, on a temp basis until clean drinking water is available.

Are you serious babieseverywhere??? Have you been watching the news? 'any breastfeeding mother could wet nurse' well, of course. But a lot of breastfeeding mothers will be dead. And others will have other things on their mind than feeding someone elses baby

relactate??

they are starving, i wouldn't be surprised if nursing mothers are starting to dry up.

Yes but if death toll as high as it is whAt if no monthers or grandmothers there or in a state to feed?

The report says that Nestle is supplying "Supligen, (a liquid meal supplement" which I assume won't need water to reconstitute it. And is also pledging "US $1 million in bottled water".
The continuation of breastfeeding or wet-nursing would only be possible if the mother or another willing nursing mother was available. Otherwise wouldn't these donations be more than welcome?

Well in that case bamboobuton, food aid directed at nursing mothers is a better solution than switching babies to formula in the aftermath of a disaster on this scale.

It is very important that any infant formula used in disaster situations is distributed by aid agencies who are aware of how to distribute safely. Indiscriminate use can damage breastfeeding cultures and undermine existing breastfeeding and babies die because it is just not possible to formula feed safely, in the short or long term.

Most NGOs, like Oxfam, SCF and the other big names adhere to special protocols so breastfeeding and infant health is protected.

There will be situations and individuals where formula is necessary; of course it should be available when this happens.

No one here needs to wonder 'what are people to do?'. The programmes are worked out in advance and agreed internationally. Google breastfeeding in emergency situations if you want to know more.

Why all the nestle hate here?? Seriously. And I am pro bf, I am still feeding ds at 19 months, but jeez, people. Without this donation, many more babies would die. But noooo, we have to promote bfing at all costs don't we Why can't we, for once, decree that this donation of milk is a damned good thing

why though QOFE? who is going to volunteer to wet nurse an orphan for months or even years when they have to look out for their own child?

there are probably more orphans than there are nursing mothers.

Read the thread, follow the links and the suggestions for further info, and then you will understand, badietbuddy.

This is nothing - NOTHING - to do with promotion of bf at all costs.

It is everything - EVERYTHING - to do with saving babies' lives.

But if you don't read the thread, follow the links and the suggestions, you may not fully understand, I suppose.

badietbuddy,

Actually without this donation less babies will die.

Read what Tiktok posted, she is the expert around here.

Oh, for goodness sake....talk about armchair philosophising.

bamboobutton - you have no idea how many orphans versus wet nurses there are.

Formula may be needed in some situations. But it has to be carefully and minimally distributed in order to preserve life - not dumped en masse by manufacturers.

Breastfeeding is incredibly fragile in societies under this sort of stress and strain. But for the health of the infants, it needs careful protection.

bamboobutton, if a woman is asked to wetnurse an orphaned baby, you can bet that Aid agencies will be supplementing that woman's diet with food. This is a good thing for the woman and any other of her own children who are dependent on her well being.

In Haiti breastfeeding is the norm, bringing formula in can damage breastfeeding during the disaster and after it.

Formula in this sort of catastrophe also has a way of disappearing into the black market where it is sold on too.

If nestle wants to donate to a disaster, it should be unbranded formula.

sorry Babieseverywhere and QoFE et al, but I can't stay online tonight to help you argue the toss because I have lots of nasty time wasting rubbish developing at work and have to waste more of my time on it tonight.

Even if it is liquid milk, what about the bottles? Teats? Fuel to boil water to sterilise? Water to boil to sterilise?! And when the aid wagon moves on, and expensive liquid milks run out, what do women do then? Buy the powedered?

Gabrielle Palmer's chapter on aid donations is particularly good and points out all this stuff... it is beyond depressing. In developing countries, bf is the safest option, in disaster zones even more so. Wet nursing (and relactation, altgough that must be tough) is just so much more preferable. It really becomes a matter of life or death.

tiktok, thats why i said probably. but i have seen on the news two or three orphanages saying they are running out of food so there are alot of orphans.

foxytocin, if bfing mum can be helped to continue feeding then that is great. i have my doubts that many women in that situation will be over come with civic duty and wet nurse another baby so formula will be necessary for babies to survive.

"If nestle wants to donate to a disaster, it should be unbranded formula."

I seem to remember reading that when formula is required in these type of situations. The donation must be 6/12 months supply per baby. Rather than just enough to undermine the mothers milk supply and creating a new nestle's customer for the next few months.