Tell WHO that ALL human babies deserve human milk

Direct submissions can be sent to WHO at
  http://www.who.int/nutrition/events/consultation-protection-promotion-support-breastfeeding/en

The World Health Organization has opened a short comment period on the draft of a 2017 update to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

In the section on supplementation when the infant's own milk is not available, the document recommends the use of donor human milk - but only for low-birth weight infants. If followed, this could change policies in place today in a number of facilities that make donor human milk available for healthy term and near term infants who have a medical need for supplementation.

The comment period closes TODAY, October 24th, 2017   has apparently been extended. More details coming, but if you didn't sign because it's tomorrow where you are, please do sign now, it's not too late!!

 If you would like to tell the WHO that the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative should support donor milk, when available, for all babies with a medical need to be supplemented, please read the following letter and then use the form at the bottom to sign.

Note, your signature will be appended to this document for public viewing.

Please note, if you signed prior to the update date/time below and your signature does not appear here, email Jodine Chase as jchase at mediaworkswest dot com. Likely the signature form didn't completely capture your signature (there are a number with first names only.)

Update, Signatures added to 8:00 a.m. MDT
Next update noon .  Oct 25, MDT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department of Nutrition for Health and Development (NHD)
World Health Organization

Avenue Appia 20

1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland October, 2017

Re: Public consultation on the draft of the document: Protection, Promotion, and Support of Breastfeeding in Facilities Providing Maternity and Newborn Services: The Revised Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative 2017

Thank you for the opportunity to comment the revised Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI 2017).

Including donor human milk explicitly in the BFHI 2017 is an important revision that further aligns the BFHI with global breastfeeding policy framework and responds to the call at the World Breastfeeding Conference 2012 in Delhi to adopt a human rights approach to the protection, promotion, and support of infant and young child feeding at all levels.

Specifically, the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding (2003) states:

“For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat – depends on individual circumstances.”

and the Convention of the Rights of the Child, Article 24 refers to the rights of all children:

"to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health…”

In the draft BFHI 2017, the specific reference to donor human milk in Section 2.1.4 Supplementation needs to be broadened to be fully aligned with the Global Strategy, the CRC, and other instruments and policies that support the right of the child to adequate nutrition. By referencing donor milk as being appropriate for low-birth-weight infants only, the BFHI 2017 could erode other important guidance and policies where donor milk, when available, is recommended as an option for all infants in need. Numerous policies and guidances position donor human milk as the next best option for infants, ahead of infant formula (Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (2017), Canadian Pediatric Society (2010), Health Canada (2012), (PATH (2013).) For example, the Emergency Nutrition Network Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group’s new Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Version 3.0 (2017) states:

“Where an infant is not breastfed by his/her mother, quickly explore, in priority order, the viability of relactation, wet nursing and donor human milk, informed by cultural context, current acceptability to mothers and service availability.

The undersigned request that the first sentence in Section 2.1.4, Paragraph 5 be amended to read:

“Infants, especially those with very low birth weight, who cannot be fed their own milk should be fed donor human milk (50, 51)....”

Thank you for this opportunity to provide comment the draft BFHI 2017.

Sincerely,

Jodine Chase Human Milk News Sarah E. DeYoung SafelyFed USA Sarah Smith

Natalie Barnes Breastfeeding Matters, South Vancouver Island

Krystina Langston
President, Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton

Layla Mairleitner

Martha Paynter

Jill DeLorenzo

Kirsten Goa

Melissa Bartick MD

Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School

Dr. Angie Bond
Arizona State University

Ilse Padilla

Jen Peddlesden

Judith Dyck

Jennifer Iwata
La Leche League Canada - Director on the Board  

Karen Bishop

Magdalena Whoolery
La Leche League

Katherine Teske
Leader, La Leche League

Helen Gray

Kerri Grummett
Canadian citizen

Elizabeth C Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA
private practice IBCLC, lactation educator, public health advocate

Hong Le Betibuti

Juanita Jauer Steichen

Dr. Zarya Rubin MD
Director, Latched On MD

Lauren Wong
Senior neonatal sister, NHS

Renae Haynes
Warrnambool breastfeeding centre

Naomi Hambleton IBCLC

A2Z Lactation

Dr. Stefanie Rosin
www.stillberatung-rosin.de

Eric Braul Jenna Richards
The Family Centre Perth

Susan E Burger PhD MHS IBCLC
Sole Proprietor, Lactescence, NYC Susan Howard RN MSN IBCLC
Owner Arlington Lactation

Stephanie Sosnowski IBCLC
Birth and Breastfeeding Education and Support

Elida Silva IBCLC

Orla Olivieri

Ashley Heatherly CLC
Whole Mothering Center

Julia Mio
La Leche League Canada, Leader

Mari Manger, Independent Nutritionist, PhD

Camilla Aviss RN IBCLC

Adele McHenry-Koenen
LLL

Caroline Smith
Cone Health

Michele Karver

Meghin Hynson CLC

Della Dennis
The human family

AJ Cecil-Starlin CLC
North Omaha Breastfeeding Advisory Team

Danielle Saxon

Colleen Emary
Independent, Public Health Nutritionist

Jaimie Zaki

Molly Frizzell

Samantha King
Australian Breastfeeding Information Hub

Associate Professor Karleen Gribble

Samantha Soh

Pam Martin

Justine Hirsch
La Leche League leader

Peter Martin

Jared Martin

Jennifer Martin

MaryAnn Joseph RN IBCLC

Rilla Marshall

Lynnette Hudgens
La Leche League of Pensacola

Kathleen Rolfe'

Sondra Aresty
Postpartum Doula, Gentle Hands Doula

Demi Lucas
Mother

Kaitlynn Antonenko

Margaret Bennet-Alder

George Kent
University of Hawaii (Emeritus)

Natalie Millar
Senior Clinical Dietitian,
Regina General Hospital, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region

Laura Watt
La Leche League Canada (Kingston ON)

Melanie MacDonald

Ruth McAllister
La Leche League

Kellie Gearlds RN IBCLC

Beth Paynter

Stefanie Kalmakoff

Sabrina Miller Hardin Memorial Hospital IBCLC Moon Afrykayn Aku Breastfeeding Mothers Unite Donna Basaldua Marion Public Health Kim Moss-Allen Jennifer Welch International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Lindsey Schiessler Noelle Polack Pinay Doulas Collective andrea schlueter Breastfeeding Peer Helper Linda Anderegg Nurse Clinician/IBCLC, Elmhurst Hospital

Laura Graham, M.S. Kathleen Anderson

Rachelle Lesteshen
Breastfeeding USA Counselor

Erin Fair
Director of the Volunteer Doula Program

Sharon Tsui
Natural Parenting Network

Carlee Robbins

Katie McNiven Gladman, Registered Midwife IBCLC

Liz Langthorn

Beth Lichy

Sarah King


Lindsey LaForte
LLL Leader

Shelley Halloran
Breastfeeding USA

Erin Dillon

Maureen
La Leche League Leader

Amanda Yohn
Leader, La Leche League-USA; Birth Doula-Independent practice

Christine Staricka IBCLC
Baby Cafe Bakersfield

Sarah Boutin

Sarah Murnane
Australian Breastfeeding Project

Melanie Myers IBCLC

Carol Kelley
Breastfeeding USA Counselor

Cassadee Scollon
Mother of 3 and 3 x milk donor to healthy full term babies whose mother wanted my milk not formula

Emily Wright

Tova Ovits IBCLC

Jessica Ceniceros

Rachael Stratton CLC

Norma Escobar
Lactation Consultant

Melanie Bast

Olivia Valentine, RN

Elyssa Darke

Denise Ives, Breastfeeding Counsellor (DipHE)
The Breast Room

Lauren Barlow

Kay Whitby, RN

Rebecca Guy

Kristy Newnham
Milc Melbourne

Aileen Uy Breastfeeding Pinays

Pamela Hendrix

Schayne George

Alice Giltrow

Tanya Smith
Serenity Breastfeeding Support LLC, Owner/IBCLC, private practice

Rachel Thomson, Registered Nurse

Rachel Leitman

Nisa Briggs-Kelly

Lucy Friars

Penny Reimers
Human Milk Banking Association, South Africa

Belinda Delardes

Jennifer Gorton, Sonographer

Katie Miran
Carole Dobrich

Laura Delmonico Nationwide Nurse-In

Julie Audette Mother

Rebekah Sullivan

Ruth Brodbeck RM IBCLC LLL

Celeste Vieira-Miller

Nicole LaForge

Kathleen Kelly RN RM

Helga Wandel

Ellen Kamman IBCLC

Audrey Trenholme

Eve O'Shea

Rosie Macdonald

Evelina Fisher

Caroline Mugavin

Anna Saxman RN IBCLC

Regina KeoghOur Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 


Emma Scriven


Patricia Vanier


Victoria Honar IBCLC
Breastfeeding in Bahrain

Sarah Ortegon Cabrera


Kat M-L 


Jennifer James IBCLC


Clare Davidson


Maddie McMahon, Breastfeeding Counsellor, Doula


Charity Catlin, Licensed Midwife, CPM 


Eva Doula

Linda Freia Erbe, Doula


Eleanor Gates
BFHI Coordinator, Waitemata DHB, New Zealand


Bridget Supple
Seeding Baby’s Microbiome


Shaughn Leach, Midwife, IBCLC 


Cat Owens


Camilla Winter-Moore, Doula

Lisa Casson
Birth Roots


Claire Hirsch


Dr. Naomi Park



Joanne Allan
Australian Breastfeeding Association


Anna Shelton


Kalindi Black
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and DUK Postnatal Doula

Donna McParland
Mother, parent educator, doula, baby carrying consultant and breastfeeding peer supporter


Loraine Hamm
Speech Language Therapist/IBCLC


Roger Godfrey
Parent 



Sharon Knorr


Rosie Greenwood
NHS Derbyshire


Lucy Leonard


Becky Young


Lucy Leonard


Bridget Muir


Wendy Green


Amy Barron Smolinski

Executive Director, Mom2Mom Global


Kelly JonesMother



Claire Davies


Gonneke van Veldhuizen-Staas 
Eurolac Lactatiekunde, owner, lactation consultant


Ria de Boer
IBCLC lactatiekundige Kraamzorg de Waarden


Megan Stephenson
Breastfeeding Counsellor, NCT


Rebeca Schütz


Leata Davoine


Zoë Stijnen


Daniela Spanos


Caoimhe Whelan 


Lisa Parsons


Steve Coe


Jude Soames


Cecilia Tomori, PhD


Justine Railton 


Karen Peters


Anne Sleven


Laura SwannThe Holistic Doula


Floor Kulker


Alice Gardiner


Mel Kelly


Lenshina Hines

Secretary, Y Cwtch Llaeth - Newcastle Emlyn Breastfeeding Support Group


Maureen Minchin, Author Milk Matters: infant feeding and immune disorder
Milk Matters, PTY Ltd


Jenny YamagataWomen`s Oasis for Maternal Wellness and Birth

Marage Liliane


Sally Light


Nina BerryAustralian Breastfeeding Association; University of Sydney


Dr Jo Dagustun, UK



Aurora Legge


Charlotte Dent


Susan D NiedzielskiMohawk Valley Breastfeeding Network 


Andrea DeLarm
Breastfeeding USA Counselor


Marie Robinson


Paola ban der staak
As shifaa - independent midwife

Kelli Betters


Joy Schloemer


Jennifer Kaczynski IBCLC 


Julie Larose


Carolyn Siobhan Wilson
La Leche League Canada Leader


Lenore Goldfarb
Health e-Learning-IIHL/Step 2 Education

Helen Johnson
Antenatal Educator

Sarah Bowman


Dawn Lamuth-Higgins
Ligonier La Leche League

Fran Rolfe



Olive Edwards
Olive Branch Therapies


Nicole Lord


Fenda Louisaire RN IBCLC


Corinne Hurndell


Cristel van Prooijen


Laurel WilsonChildbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association, Senior Advisor


Ann Davison
Northampton General Hospital

Nikki MatherDoula and Breastfeeding counsellor


Sophie Brayley
Jeretha McKinley 

Christina Feminella


Lisette Pothoven


Sigrid van Hamburg


Leigh Anne O'Connor


Selma Alves


Anne-Marie Jude


Dania DeLoneMilkworks


Dana Patti


Jennifer ReinhardtLa Leche League USA


Rebekka HenriksenLa Leche League Leader Regina
Independent Consultant 


Ginny Kooyman


Heidi Akkers


Julia Irvine 


Elizabeth Davis 


Amy Laskey, Registered Dietician


Emma Woockman

Kyla Milne


Rowan Smith


Laraine Lockhart BormanMothers Milk Bank, Colorado


Nicole Shirazee 

Hope JenkinsonLa Leche League Leader


Mary Lou Moramarco IBCLC

Sarah Allison


Kendra Owen 


Barbara Hardin RN IBCLCThe Mother's Milk Company


Sara Shepherd
LLL Leader and IBCLC


Deirdre Wells


Robyn P
University of Saskatchewan Nutrition Student


Avital Kline


Shaniee R Green
Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates - Treasurer


Linda Good IBCLC


Lynn Jurgens Dralle


Jen Kosakowski


E. Kalkman-Zwart

Darlene ArchibaldLa Leche League Canada Leader


Sandra Wesley

Rosa Villalpando

Becky DrevetsIntegris Health Edmond Lactation Consultant


Allison Haye
Allison Hayek Birth Services



-->Anna Le Grange IBCLC

-->Olivia Mayer RD CSP IBCLC

-->Ariel Patrick

-->Brenda Walsh

-->Jessica Kratzer

-->Lexi Hopkins

-->Virginia McClary CLD LE
-->Redeemed Birth Services 

-->Taylor Scarborough

-->Kimela Budlong

-->Ani Pendergast

-->Philippa Howard

-->Katie Marsh

-->Claire Barnett
-->Breastfeeding Counselor, Breastfeeding USA; and mother who supplemented with donor milk
 Gloria Thai, Lactation Specialist


-->Megan Bifulco
-->La Leche League Vineland NJ 

-->Kymberly Norrick
-->FlourishConnect and La Leche League

-->Lana Lonseth
-->IBCLC, La Leche League Leader

-->Christy Vergara IBCLC

-->Wendy Bell
-->Snugabell Mom & Baby Gear, Founder & CEO 

-->Lou-Ellen MacDonald, PA-C
-->Retired IBCLC, LLL Leader

-->Jaylene Rosales IBCLC

-->Roxanna Farnsworth IBCLC

-->Bobbie Evonne Davison

-->Melissa Laidlaw

-->Pamea BudlongCitizen


-->Mel Neal
-->La Leche League Canada, Chair

-->R. Verwer

-->Norma Ritter IBCLC RLC
-->Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region (NY) 
-->-->-->
-->Patty Jacobs 
-->Breastfeeding USA Counselor 

-->Jennifer Warrick

-->Anna Mroczek
-->Upstate University Hospital

-->Susan Jacoby, IBCLCWIC


-->Olga Horsman
-->MamaMelk

-->Ceit Blue

-->Lissette Minges
-->Dragonfly Village, Founder/Owner

-->Michelle Reetz

-->Marianne Vakiener
-->La Leche League

-->Avni Trivedi

-->Lena Ostroff

-->Heather Owen
-->BC, Breastfeeding USA

-->Kimberly Daniels
-->LLLC Leader

-->Alexis Adams

-->Kasandra Raux
-->Parent Partner, Southside Hospital, Northwell Health

-->Jeni Stevens, CMC INFANT FEEDING IBCLC RN RM  

-->Jill Cunningham

-->Emma Whittlestone-Port

-->Erma van Dijk
-->Praktijk landaya

-->Suzanne Schindler

-->Glee Huntsman

-->Ashley Starks

-->Dorothy Kane IBCLC

-->Rosie Foulk

-->Morgan Irvine  -->-->
-->-->
-->Nikola Milevski
-->Ruth Harrison
-->NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor

-->Andrea Taylor
-->CLC

-->Meyke Spoel
-->Midwife

-->Kelly Durbin
-->Owner, Birth educator and Breastfeeding Counselor at The MOMI Method

-->Alexandra Powers

-->Sally Hammell

-->Sara Hunter
-->MAMS Director

-->Hayley Bell

-->Jayne Lyddiard

-->Pardee Henderson MPH IBCLC
-->Patricia Molinari

-->Jennifer Kugler

-->Abaigeal Pilling, RN

-->Debbie BuckinghamMother


-->Donna Brooks
-->Vidant Medical Center IBCLC

-->Sarah Blunkosky
-->LLL USA Leader, LLL Common Wealth

-->Hilary Johnston
-->Hilary Johnston, Leader, La Leche League Canada Ottawa South East

-->Trish Toompuu
-->Latch Lactation Consulting

-->Jacqueline Kirkland

-->Iona Macnab BA(Hons) LLB IBCLC
-->iLactation Ltd

-->Kait Prendergast

-->Rebecca Welcome

-->Marjorie VeraIBCLC, La Leche League Leader

Marion Rice

References

Arnold, L. D. (2006). Global health policies that support the use of banked donor human milk: a human rights issue. International Breastfeeding Journal, 1, 26. http://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-1-26

Brady, M. (October, 2012). Breastfeeding is a human right. What does that mean?, Baby Milk Action Archive Site, Retrieved from http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog111212,

JH Kim, S Unger; (2016). Canadian Paediatric Society, Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee, Position statement on human milk banking, Paediatr Child Health 2010;15(9):595-8 Retrieved from: https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/human-milk-banking

Health Canada, (2012) Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Birth to Six Months, A joint statement of Health Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/infant-feeding/nutrition-healthy-term-infants-recommendations-birth-six-months.html

IFE Core Group - Operational Guidance on Infant & Young Child Feeding in Emergencies - V3

Kellems, A., Harrel, C., Omage, S., Gregory, C., Rosen-Carole, C., Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (2017) ABM clinical protocol #3: Supplementary feedings in the healthy term breastfed neonate, revised 2017, Breastfeeding Medicine, 1-3, DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2017.29038.ajk

Kent, G. (2006). Child feeding and human rights. International Breastfeeding Journal, 1, 27. http://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-1-27

PATH. Strengthening Human Milk Banking: A Global Implementation Framework. Version 1.1. Seattle, Washington, USA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges initiative, PATH; 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.path.org/publications/files/MCHN_strengthen_hmb_frame_Jan2016.pdf

Taylor, E.C., Labbok, M. H., (2014.) (Donor human milk access and use in the United States: Findings and recommendations, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Retrieved from:  http://breastfeeding.sph.unc.edu/files/2014/11/DHM_I_Report_May-15-cost-truncated.pdf

World Health Organization: Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding 2003 , Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/New_Publications/NUTRITION/gs_iycf.pdf

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