BOLSTER BREASTFEEDING

Post-pandemic food shortages and supply-chain disruptions, along with a recall, have created a stressful situation for new parents using formula.

Many brands are still available; however, parents stocking up due to panic-buying has led to gaps in specific products such as those made for cow milk allergies.

Breastfeeding Week’s (Aug. 1-7) theme this year, therefore, is very timely: “Step up for Breastfeeding.” It addresses food shortages caused by post-pandemic inequalities such as these.

As we build back better, a focus on increasing both breastfeeding rates and duration is necessary. In emergencies, there may not be a product to buy, nor clean water to use.

The pandemic’s effects on breastfeeding included many choosing to breastfeed longer due to the immunity benefits along with, unfortunately, reduced ability for free in-person breastfeeding mentorship. Online meetings are not as effective as in-person ones for dealing with latch issues.

There is also financial gatekeeping in the breastfeeding support community. For-profit lactation consultant fees are high and out of reach for the poorest mothers who need food security the most at this time. Wait lists for free help through health nurses are extensive and, in many cases, too late.

The World Health Organization has also blown the whistle on formula companies using unethical marketing tactics to target and undermine vulnerable new parents.

Luckily, the biggest barrier to breastfeeding is cultural norms that can be easily fixed through representation.

There have been three high-profile cases in Canada where breastfeeding parents were removed from malls due to lack of representantion and education in the populace.

As we Step Up for Breastfeeding to ensure post-pandemic food security, we must create a warm chain of support, including governments, our communities and individual actors, supporting, enabling and empowering parents.

Abbie Lepage, Dartmouth