Due to the recent devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to the Carolina’s, I wanted to create a post helping families prepare and navigate infant feeding during times like these.
Disclaimer- this post does contain affiliate links and I do earn a small commission for any items purchased through my links.
Natural disasters can strike unexpectedly, leaving families of little ones in difficult situations. When choosing how they want to feed their baby, expecting parents need to consider the types of weather conditions and potential disasters their climate may face- hurricanes, snow storms, tornados, flooding… Sometimes these weather conditions can strike even in unexpected environments. When was the last time the mountains of NC had a hurricane? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that no one expected the level of devastation Helene brought to those poor communities.
When a natural disaster is coming for or has struck your community, evacuation the best option to not only ensure the safety of your family, but also to ensure that your infant has access to safe feeding methods. In this article, we’ll discuss key strategies for breastfeeding, pumping, and formula feeding during times of natural disaster, along with tips for preparation.
1. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the most convenient and nutritious option for feeding infants, especially during emergencies. Breastfeeding is considered the optimal choice of infant feeding during times of natural disaster because:
Parents are not reliant on any outside forces like electricity or clean water to feed their infant.
The family may need to travel or evacuate to another area and nursing can provide comfort to both the infant and mother during times of stress and uncertainty.
In an emergency evacuation, they family does not need to worry about grabbing anything else. No bottles or additional supplies would be necessary.
Breastmilk contains antibodies to help keep from getting sick.
There may be sick individuals in a shelter that the family may need to seek help in.
The overall living conditions of the infant’s environment may be less than ideal due to local flooding, debris, etc.
If you are a breastfeeding family, here’s how you can prepare for a natural disaster:
Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with local resources and support that can assist breastfeeding mothers during disasters.
Emergency Plan: Create a plan that includes a designated safe space or location if evacuation becomes necessary.
Hydration and Nutrition: Be mindful of moms own hydration and nutrition. Store non-perishable snacks and water to help maintain milk supply and take what you can if evacuation is needed.
During a Disaster:
Continue to breastfeed baby on demand. Infants may need to nurse more frequently due to stress, so be prepared to feed them as needed.
Consider the possibility of needing to feed another family’s infant/ child. During times of natural disaster, it is not uncommon for nursing mothers to help provide breastmilk to children who are not their own. This helps ensure other infants receive nutrients that could be essential for their survival and health.
2. Pumping
For mothers who pump breastmilk, having a plan in place is essential in the event of a natural disaster. Unlike breastfeeding, pumping requires families to have more dependence on outside forces. Pumping mothers typically need electricity to work or charge their pump + access to clean water to ensure cleanliness of pump parts/pieces, and bottles.
If you are a pumping family, here’s how you can prepare for a natural disaster:
Invest in a Hand Pump: A manual breast pump, that is not reliant on any electricity is invaluable when power outages occur.
A pump like the Medela Harmony is a great, inexpensive choice for many families. https://amzn.to/4gF2OhH
Invest in a solar charged power bank to operate or charge an elctric breast pump when electricity is unavailable. This small, portable power station is a great option for a pumping mother, https://amzn.to/3XMBiWL.
Disposable Storage Bags: If you know a storm is coming, stock up on disposable breast milk storage bags that are easy to seal and store. If you have an emergency preparedness kit in your home, consider adding a pack of milk storage bags to your kit ahead of time. Depending on the amount/ frequency you typically pump, you may want more or less bags. Typically a small 50 count box of bags like these, https://amzn.to/3XLg8bE would be more than enough to get you through until you can establish a safe space.
Cooler and Ice Packs: Keep a cooler with ice packs ready to store pumped milk safely during an evacuation. Large ice blocks tend to melt more slowly than smaller ice cubes. Consider purchasing an ice block maker like this, https://amzn.to/4eqvCJ2 to help your milk stay colder longer.
Stock up on water: Having ample supply of clean water to wash pump parts and bottles is essential to ensure cleanliness and safety. A travel bottle brush + drying rack like this https://amzn.to/4gOHLJI can also be a huge help for a pumping mom when on the go/ evacuating.
Breast Pump Wipes: Although thorough cleaning with soap and water is the preferred method of washing, pump wipes can be a great alternate when access to clean water is limited or while evacuating/ traveling. A set like these should do the trick: https://amzn.to/3Bu7dUE
Extra Bottles and Pump Parts: If access to clean water is limited, having multiple sets of pump parts and extra bottles/ nipples can help ensure safe and clean feeding if washing access is limited.
During a Disaster:
Pumping Schedule: Maintain your current pumping schedule as much as possible to ensure a steady milk supply and adequate nutrition for baby.
Ensure safe handling as much as possible. Continue to follow CDC breastmilk storage and handling guidelines. If you feel the safety of your milk has been compromised, do not feed it to baby. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breast-milk-preparation-and-storage/handling-breastmilk.html
3. Formula Feeding
For families using formula, good preparation is key to ensure that infants have access to clean, safe nutrition during emergencies. Formula unfortunately can expose your baby to harmful germs and makes parents more reliant on outside forces- formula availability, clean water, and access to clean bottles. Powered infant formula is not sterile and can cause a dangerous infection in infants from the Cronobacter bacteria. If your baby is less than 2 months old, is immunocompromised, or was born prematurely, then powered formula needs to be mixed with boiled water to kill off this bacteria. During a natural disaster, the ability to do this may be limited. Formula also needs to be mixed with clean water. During a natural disaster, access to clean water may be limited. For this reason, ready- to- feed formulas are considered the best and safest option during a natural disaster.
If you are a formula feeding family, here’s how you can prepare for a natural disaster:
Stock Up on Formula: Keep an ample supply of your baby’s formula. Again, ready- to- feed options are considered the safest option if available in your child’s formula.
Stock Up on Water: Keep an ample supply of bottled water for mixing formula and washing bottles. The travel bottle brush and drying rack as mentioned above can be really helpful when evacuating or on the go. Also consider having a portable water filter if needed. The Survivor Filer Pro is a great option for obtaining clean water in an emergency situation or when local water may be compromised due to flooding: https://amzn.to/4dmPnju
Feeding Equipment: Ensure you have adequate bottles and nipples available incase access to water/ washing is limited.
Emergency Contacts: Keep contact information for local food banks or shelters that may provide formula or assistance.
During a Disaster:
Ready to feed formulas are considered best as they are sterile and do not require clean water for mixing.
Continue to follow CDC guidelines for safe formula preparation and storage during an emergency: https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/powdered-infant-formula.html
Use prepared infant formula within 2 hours of mixing and within 1 hour from the start of the feeding. Discard any infant formula left in the bottle after feeding.
Adaptability: Consider the possibility of having to switch to another formula or to donor breastmilk if resources become scarce.
Conclusion:
Natural disasters can create unique challenges for families of infants, but with proper preparation, parents can ensure their babies receive the nutrition they need. Whether breastfeeding, pumping, or formula feeding, having a plan in place is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of your little one during such times.
We are praying for those affected by Hurricane Helene. The Lake Norman community has really come together and has donated A TON of supplies! If you also feel called to help, here are a few ways you can help support those in Western North Carolina: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2024/09/29/north-carolina-buncome-flood-victims-how-to-help-donate/75441389007/
Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay safe, mamas! 🫶🏼
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