by Mary Jessica Hammes
August 01, 2009

It’s easy to forget that breastfeeding really can save a baby’s life, especially in places where diarrhea or pneumonia can be a death sentence.

The theme for this year’s 18th annual World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), held Aug. 1–7, is “A Vital Emergency Response.” Organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), WBW encourages breastfeeding during emergencies worldwide, when it’s not just the most nutritionally sound way of feeding a baby—it’s both intervention and protection when normal life is turned upside down.

Take Burma, officially known as Myanmar. In May of 2008, the worst natural disaster in that country’s history hit in the form of Cyclone Nargis, which killed around 85,000 people (and around 54,000 remain missing). In such instances, a safe water supply for washing bottles and making formula is not a given. And yet less than 15 percent of mothers in that region breastfeed exclusively, according to a UNICEF-made video.

Breastfeeding, says WABA, is “the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants” in emergencies. In fact, an international collaboration of United Nations agencies and non-governmental groups says, “donations of breast milk substitutes, bottles and teats should not be sought nor accepted in emergencies.”

WABA has worked to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding since it’s founding in 1991. Now, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in over 150 countries. This year, WABA has joined forces with the Emergency Nutrition Network and the International Baby Food Action Network-Geneva Infant Feeding Association.

At the WBW Web site, you can download an Action Folder in eight different languages to learn how you can be prepared to help mothers breastfeed during emergencies. It also lists common misconceptions about breastfeeding in emergencies. For instance, malnourished mothers can breastfeed, a mother can stop and then start breastfeeding again, and mothers with HIV can breastfeed.

While we’re talking about worldwide breastfeeding, what are breastfeeding rates around the globe?

According to La Leche League International’s list of breastfeeding statistics from 2003, Norway leads European countries with 99 percent of women breastfeeding immediately after birth. In Ireland, France, and Scotland, only around 50 percent of women breastfeed immediately after birth.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 97 percent of women breastfeed after birth in Bolivia and Peru; the lowest-rated country, Belize, still has 92 percent of mothers breastfeeding after birth.

Nepal leads Asian countries with 97 percent of women breastfeeding after birth; in the Philippines, 88 percent of women breastfeed after birth.

In the Middle East and North Africa, Oman has the most breastfeeding mothers following birth—99 percent. In Lebanon, 88 percent of mothers breastfeed after birth. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 100 percent of mothers breastfeed after birth in Cote d’Ivoire; 72 percent do in Mauritius.

In Australia, 87 percent of women breastfeed after birth. In New Zealand, that number is 93 percent. In Canada, it’s 72 percent.

And in the United States (US)? According the 2003 LLLI list, 70 percent of women here breastfeed after birth. According to the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, which uses information from 2006, the number is 73.9 percent.

It’s hard to know in many of those countries how long women are breastfeeding; many countries on LLLI’s list are lacking information on breastfeeding at four months and beyond. But in all the countries that do list percentages of mothers still breastfeeding then and beyond, the numbers dramatically drop. For instance, while 99 percent of women breastfeed in Oman right after their babies are born, only 28 percent are exclusively breastfeeding at six  months. In the US, only about 33 percent are breastfeeding at 4–5 months.

Breastfeeding promotion is still needed. If you’re going to breastfeed your baby in an emergency, it’s easier if you are already breastfeeding.