BBC News - 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk

Last fall the milk bank in Irvinestown, Ireland, found its stores of donated human milk at critically low levels, and after an appeal more than 100 women came forward and now the milk bank is having to purchase a new freezer to store all that has been donated. This is good news in the short term. In the long-term, if every new mother were made aware of the importance of human milk and the need for donors, would there continue to be shortages and urgent calls for donors?

"BBC News - 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk: 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk

28 December 2011 Last updated at 02:01 ET

Anne McCrea said the appeal "had done wonders".

A service that helps premature and seriously ill babies has had an overwhelming response to an appeal for new mums to donate breast milk.

The Human Milk Bank in Irvinestown is used for babies in neo-natal units across Ireland who cannot be fed by their own mothers.

In September stocks had reached a critically low level.

Since highlighting the situation more than a hundred new mums have come forward.

The service is now having to buy an additional freezer to store the milk.

Canadian women join US protest against retailer TARGET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Telephone: 780-938-5208

Email: jchase@mediaworkswest.com

Canadian women are holding an event at West Edmonton mall tomorrow, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m., in solidarity with hundreds of mothers and children who plan to breastfeed at Target stores all across the US. (See Thttp://healthland.time.com/2011/12/27/the-nurse-in-why-breast-feeding-moms-are-mad-at-target/ime Magazine coverage Dec. 27).

"Target: Welcome to breastfeeding-friendly Canada" is being held at the mall entrance to the Zellers store.  The US retailer has purchased the lease rights to Zellers stores and plans to open Target stores across Canada, including in West Edmonton Mall.

Target is currently gearing up to hire thousands of staff members and the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton (BACE) is calling on Target to ensure its breastfeeding policy is appropriate for Canada, and to properly train all of its new staff.

There have been a number of high profile incidents in the US, most recently in Houston where a mother was harassed for breastfeeding in the store and then not supported by Target's corporate headquarters despite a written company policy that protects breastfeeding mothers. 

BACE wants Target recognize that Canada and the U.S. are different. In Canada breastfeeding in public is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is specifically protected in some provincial human rights codes. Our federal government encourages women and children to breastfeed "anytime and anywhere."  Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are longer here, and moms have longer maternity leaves which means Target employees are more likely to encounter breastfeeding moms in their Canadian stores. 

BACE is calling for Target to:

- ensure Target Canada policies support women and children breastfeeding in Target stores "anytime, anywhere."

- properly train staff to leave breastfeeding women and children alone. These moms should not be asked to leave the store, to cover up, or to go to a private place. 

- ensure Target Canada store designs provide for an appropriate, quiet, comfortable place for women who wish to breastfeed in privacy and train staff to direct women to these places, but only if the woman asks. Women should not be directed to a washroom to feed their children.

- where appropriate, Target should support local community efforts to ensure breastfeeding friendly spaces. For example, the Okanagan Breastfeeding Friendly Coalition partners with retailers to ensure stores are breastfeeding friendly. The city of Kitchener has passed a bylaw requiring all facilities run by the city to be breastfeeding friendly. Ottawa's "Food for All" coalition is calling for breastfeeding friendly support. And the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton, BACE, has declared a gohttp://www.facebook.com/BACEpage?sk=infoal of making the Edmonton Capital Region the most breastfeeding friendly in Canada. Edmonton-area retailers can sign a pledge committing to make their stores breastfeeding friendly.

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We will meet at the mall entrance to Zellers on Level One at 11 a.m. 

US Target nurse-in news release:

        TARGET DISCRIMINATES AGAINST MOTHER BREASTFEEDING INFANT IN THEIR STORE

Target Corporation responds poorly to recent report of mother breastfeeding infant in Houston, TX                     Target Store. Breastfeeding demonstrations have been scheduled internationally.

   

Recently a mother was harassed and humiliated for her actions in  breastfeeding her hungry infant in a Houston, TX Target store. When she called Target's Corporate Headquarters, she received another humiliating blow. Target proclaims a long standing practice supporting breastfeeding in their stores. yet have a documented history with being less than helpful to breastfeeding mothers despite a clear corporate policy.

In her frustration, she has organized several nursing demonstrations (coined: "nurse-ins"), which has caught on internationally. A very busy forum exists in which women are organizing their local nurse-ins. and can be found at the following address:                  http://www.facebook.com/groups/208472545898745/

Mothers are coming together and will be feeding their children Wednesday, December 28 at 10am local time at hundreds of Target locations across the world. We have invited breastfeeding mothers, bottlefeeding mothers, friends and family to support our ability to meet our child's most basic need without ridicule and discrimination. The purpose of the demonstration is to create awareness that breastfeeding is normal, natural and is protected by state law. 

Our local group has organized an event at the following site where you can invite, and 'join' our local nurse-in at: http://www.facebook.com/events/222343607842268/ 

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If you have any questions or need further information media outlets may contact Jane Aerola by phone or email. 

How safe are infant formulas? - INFACT Canada, 2002

There is considerable attention being given to the death of a week-old baby in Missouri, possibly due to powdered infant formula contamination. INFACT Canada wrote in 2002 about about the similar death of week-old baby in Belgium due to powdered infant formula contaminated with E. sakazakii and subsequent investigations by the FDA and Health Canada. "Of the 49 cases studied, 10 were identified with positive E. sakazakii cultures..." From the article:

“A subsequent investigation to determine the extent of infection with E. sakazakii triggered the FDA warning. The surveillance study found that of 49 cases studied, 10 were identified with positive E. sakazakii cultures. A cohort study was performed to determine the possible risk factors for the infection. Medical records were reviewed to assess risk factors such as gestational age, birth weight, medications, type and mode of feeding. Results of the risk nalysis determined that only the use of Portagen Mead Johnson powdered formula was associated with the E. sakazakii infections. All case patients had received the contaminated powdered formula.

Stating that, “Clinicians should be aware that powdered formulas are not sterile products and might contain opportunistic bacterial pathogens such as those in the family Enterobacteriacae, including E. sakazakii,” the FDA warning notes, “These products are commonly used at many hospitals. A recent survey indicated that of 16 responding facilities, nine used powdered formulas.”

Around the same time a provisional warning to NICUs and other health care professionals was issued by Health Canada. What isn't clear is what the actual risk of illness is from what appears to be routine contamination. We know if powdered infant formula is properly prepared the risk is minimized. How many families who are discharged from hospital with powdered infant formula samples are given proper preparation instructions and the warning "your baby could die if you don't follow these instructions?"

A link to the full article is below:

How safe are infant formulas?: INFACT Canada, Spring 2002 -- The death of a one-week formula fed infant, Natan, born March 11, in Belgium raises important questions about the safety of breastmilk substitutes....

Canada's 2011 top 10 weather stories-are we doing all we can to protect infants?

This is a good reminder for emergency preparedness teams - are we doing all we can to protect vulnerable infants during emergencies and evacuations in the developed world? Many of our most vulnerable infants are living in isolated First Nations communities with questionable water supplies. Even wealthy communities are not well prepared for infant feeding needs during evacuations. Researchers say we need more specific preparation lists for parents of young infants, especially those feeding infant formula, and the amount of fresh clean water needed is often underestimated. See this Human Milk News post from earlier this year: Natural Disasters in Canada - are we doing enough to protect infants?

Top 10 weather stories of 2011: From Manitoba flooding to Goderich's tornado - Canada - CBC News: Top 10 weather stories of 2011: From Manitoba flooding to Goderich's tornado
Environment Canada's top stories range from disastrous floods in Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to record low Arctic sea ice
CBC News Posted: Dec 22, 2011 10:09 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 22, 2011 10:49 AM ET

Snowstorms, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes — Canada bore the brunt of all these weather systems during 2011, and Environment Canada's Dave Phillips has also included them in the top 10 weather stories of the year...