Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » AIDS

Breastfeeding News for December 1

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:52:12 +0000

In addition to the report of yet another breastfeeding discrimination incident that I discussed here, three stories caught my eye today.

AIDS Awareness ribbons; Photo by Subhadip Mukherjee

1. Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog presents some timely news for World AIDS Day. The World Health Organization announced big changes in the breastfeeding recommendation for HIV-positive mothers in developing countries. In general, HIV-positive mothers are advised to feed their babies breast milk substitutes only if it is “acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe.” If such feeding is not acceptable, feasible, affordable and safe, then mothers in developing countries were formerly advised to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and discontinue breastfeeding as soon as feasible after that. In light of new research regarding antiretroviral drugs (ARVs):

WHO now recommends that breastfeeding continue until the infant is 12 months of age, provided the HIV-positive mother or baby is taking ARVs during that period. This will reduce the risk of HIV transmission and improve the infant’s chance of survival.

2. CNN reports on the on-going story of the group of women who stepped in to breastfeed an infant when his mother passed away after giving birth. It’s been 11 months that baby Moses has been nursed by over 20 women. The baby’s father, Robbie Goodrich, said, “It’s been such an incredible outpouring of community love for this child of mine.”

3. Sinead at BreastfeedingMums covers the tragic story of a mother who fell asleep sitting up while breastfeeding her baby and accidentally smothered the child. As Sinead says, it’s important to pay attention to the guidelines for safe co-sleeping.

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International Breast Milk Project Fundraiser

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:15:42 +0000

If your New Year’s Resolution involved exercise, promoting breastfeeding or being more charitable (or maybe even all three) then I have I got an idea for you! I learned from Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog that the International Breast Milk Project (IBMP) is holding a fundraiser on February 10, 2007. You might remember that the IBMP sends donated breast milk to babies orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

A portion of the funds raised from a charity run/walk–a 2.6-mile mini-marathon–in conjunction with Run for Africa will benefit the IBMP (100% of the proceeds benefit water and nutrition programs in African villages). You can sign up and run your 2.6 miles outdoors or at one of the gyms and athletic facilities providing free access to a treadmill that day. In the United States, Bally Total Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness gyms are offering free entry to Run for Africa participants.

The suggested donation is U.S. $25 per participant. Participants will receive bright red race numbers to wear. When they complete the 2.6 miles they can report their times through the Run for Africa website to be eligible to win “dozens of finishers’ awards and prizes, including running shoes, computer watches, heart rate monitors, GoLite backpacks, and a year’s supply of organic milk from Organic Valley.”

Sounds like a win-win proposition to me! If you participate in the run, send me a picture of yourself with your red race number and I’ll post it here!

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Breast Milk Donation to AIDS Orphans

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 17:36:45 +0000

In an extraordinary program, babies whose mothers died of AIDS receive breast milk donated by South African women to the IThemba Lethu orphanage in Durban, South Africa. ABC News reported on October 4:

When the children first come to the orphanage, they are so sick and malnourished they can barely cry…. Once they are fed, they thrive on the breast milk, and within a few weeks, they are full of life. They gain weight almost immediately and don’t get sick as often when they’re drinking the breast milk.

Jill Youse, a mother in Columbia, Missouri, read about the orphanage on the Web while she was nursing her 10-month-old daughter. She spread the word and collected 24 gallons of frozen breast milk from local mothers inspired by the success of the orphanage. Global express carrier DHL generously shipped the milk to South Africa free of charge.

You can watch the three-minute video of the entire ABC News story or read the full print version. If the story of the IThemba Lethu orphanage also inspires you to investigate breast milk donation either internationally or domestically in the United States, check out the International Breast Milk Project. The organization’s third shipment, consisting of nearly 47 gallons of mother’s milk, got underway on October 3 and a fourth shipment is planned for early 2007.

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