Prevention is the Best Medicine
I posted this graphic on 9/30/2019 during National Preparedness Month. Hurricane Dorian had just done its damage. The Caribbean and S/E United States were disaster zones. Now, sadly, we are faced with a pandemic. The entire world (!) is in a state of emergency. Our daily routines have changed significantly.
Healthcare workers and the government are strongly recommending and mandating disease prevention measures. Social distancing is a new phrase our kids will think is normal.
Drinking human milk is a fundamental disease prevention measure for our most vulnerable humans.
Human milk is vital. It contains antibodies. It can protect our smallest babies. It can kill germs. It nourishes our bodies in ways we don’t yet understand. Formula is not equivalent. Pediatricians (and other primary care providers) need to be referring families experiencing breastfeeding difficulties to lactation consultants, now more than ever. Breastfeeding problems require breastfeeding solutions. Offering formula (which is becoming increasingly difficult to find) does not address the underlying problem and can compromise a baby’s immune system. While formula is necessary in certain situations, it should not be the first suggestion.
Providing human milk for babies during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential. E-ssential. Lactation support and the work of IBCLCs is crucial to helping new families begin and maintain a healthy breastfeeding relationship.
Many hospitals in my area are no longer providing lactation care once a family has been discharged. It makes sense. Why would any healthy family want to enter the one place that is potentially the most dangerous? Families are weary of even going to the hospital for the birth of their baby!
Private practice lactation consultants continue to provide home visits despite COVID-19. We have changed our daily routines to help protect ourselves and our clients as much as we can. Many of us have gone virtual and provide video consults. As recommendations are changing by the hour, you can see my latest practice changes here. It's amazing how much breastfeeding help you can provide on a video chat! But some things can't be done virtually (weighing babies, checking oral function) and those things require us to come to you.
Please know that IBCLCs are here for you. We help with breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding (including formula feeding)...we are trained in infant feeding. Please reach out. If we are unable to help you, we'll help you find someone who can.
Stay safe out there. Stay away from each other. The more we stay away from each other, the sooner we’ll be back to our daily routines and out of our state of emergency. We are in this together.