WET-NURSING IN EMERGENCIES

George Kent

doi:10.26596/wn.201893314-323

Abstract

It is often assumed that where infants cannot be breastfed by their own mothers, as is often the case in emergency situations, the second-best option is to use infant formula. However, wet nursing is usually a better option than infant formula. The wet nursing could be spontaneous or it could organized in advance. In many cases, the needs of infants who cannot be breastfed by their own mothers could be met with the help of lactating women in their area. In some cases banked human milk might meet the need, but in emergency situations it is not likely to be readily available when and where it is needed. Plans could be made by women’s groups to offer lactation services in their areas in emergency situations.

Highlights

In emergency situations, mothers should be given support to enable them to feed their infants as they wish
It is often assumed that where infants cannot be breastfed by their own mothers, the second-best option is to use infant formula
According to Médecins Sans Frontières: The malnutrition we see here is primarily due to the scarcity of infant formula

Summary

Introduction

Mothers should be given support to enable them to feed their infants as they wish. The suggestion explored here is that the option of wet nursing1 should be readily available in urgent situations in which the mother is not available or cannot breastfeed. “Infant formula should only be used in extenuating circumstances where infants have lost their mothers, or the mother cannot produce milk and no wet nurse can be found.

Results

Conclusion