Looking Both Ways: Taking Wisdom from the Past Into the Future

• Duration: 75 Mins
• Credits: 1.25 CERP, 1.25 L-CERP
• Handout: Yes

Abstract:

Pioneer researchers, clinicians, and breastfeeding advocates laid the foundations for modern lactation science. Many of their names are now forgotten, although they sounded the alarm about the risks of bottle feeding early in the last century and deplored the trend away from breastfeeding. Their dedication contributed to the development of the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in 1981, and their research contributed to the scientific basis for today's clinical practices. Thanks to advances in both science and technology we are now able to help many more mothers nurse their babies. However, enormous economic disparities exist between communities, and access to care and equipment varies widely. Technologies that we depend upon to support breastfeeding are unavailable in many areas. Even in normally secure communities, large footprint natural disasters, wars, refugee crises and unforeseen events can disrupt lives. However, no matter the circumstances mothers continue to give birth and newborns must receive adequate early immunological protection, warmth, and nutrition if they are to survive. Therefore, it is important to look back at some of the low tech solutions of the past and preserve this knowledge in our tool kits so that we know how to protect breastfeeding when the lights go off.

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