ABM releases position statement on breastfeeding in emergency situations

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has released a pioneering position statement that provides comprehensive, global recommendations on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in emergency situations. The recommendations are the first of their kind specifically tailored for physicians to support breastfed and non-breastfed infants in emergencies and to serve as an invaluable resource for all emergency relief personnel involved in supporting families with infants during disasters. Click here to read the full position statement, published with Breastfeeding Medicine.

“Breastfeeding is especially vital in emergencies because it provides safe, sustainable nutrition and immune protection without the need for electricity, clean water, or external supplies,” says Deena Zimmerman, MD MPH FAAP FABM IBCLC, one of the statement authors. Infants are among the most vulnerable in emergency situations such as natural disasters and armed conflicts. To safeguard their health and well-being, it is crucial that mothers and caregivers receive the necessary support they need to continue breastfeeding. Breastfeeding protection and support must be integral in all emergency preparedness planning and personnel training. Donations of infant formula should not be accepted or solicited during emergencies. Failure to adopt these recommendations can undermine the health and safety of infants when there is a lack of sanitation, risk of infectious diseases, and unsafe water sources in emergency settings. 

Share this position statement with your institutions and local leaders and encourage them to integrate ABM’s recommendations into emergency preparedness and response protocols. 

About the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a global organization of medical doctors with over 1,200 members whose mission is to educate and empower health professionals to support and manage breastfeeding, lactation, and human milk feeding in order to achieve healthier lives worldwide through excellence in the medical care of breastfeeding and lactation. We curate, support, and share high-quality research and innovative solutions and strive to ensure that professionals are enabled to support and nurture families with safe and effective care. 

About the Journal
Breastfeeding Medicine, the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, is an authoritative, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal published monthly in print and online with Open Access options. The Journal publishes original scientific papers, reviews, and case studies on a broad spectrum of topics in lactation medicine. It presents evidence-based research advances and explores the immediate and long-term outcomes of breastfeeding, including the epidemiologic, physiologic, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Breastfeeding Medicine website.

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, and public health and policy. For complete information, please visit the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. website.