Building a Breastfeeding Family Friendly North Carolina
- SAFE Infant Feeding in Emergencies: Vital information about our SAFE Infant Feeding Kits and how you can help.
- Donation Opportunities: Remember any donations made before October 31, 2024, will go directly to support breastfeeding and lactation providers who are truly the boots on the ground in this crisis.
In North Carolina, the concept of a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community (BFFC) takes on an even deeper meaning as we collectively navigate the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. While the immediate focus has been on rescue efforts and rebuilding infrastructure, one critical aspect of community resilience often overlooked is how we support infant feeding in emergencies.
As part of the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBfC), one of our state’s active Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities, we see our entire state as a community working together to ensure families have the support they need, especially in times of crisis. North Carolina has long been a leader in advocating for breastfeeding-friendly environments, and now, in the wake of natural disaster, we have an opportunity to put those principles into action on a broader scale.
Breastfeeding and Emergency Preparedness: A Lifeline for Families
In the chaos following Tropical Storm Helene, access to safe feeding practices for infants and young children has become a lifeline for many families. With widespread power outages, contamination of water supplies, and interrupted access to healthcare, breastfeeding has emerged as a safe, reliable source of nutrition for babies. However, many families in our state are struggling with the trauma of the disaster, and support is crucial to ensure they can continue breastfeeding or safely formula-feed their infants.
The NCBfC, alongside the national Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities initiative, is rising to meet this challenge. Our SAFE (Support and Advocacy for Feeding Emergencies) Project is focused on providing trauma-informed breastfeeding support, distributing infant feeding sanitation kits, and creating safe spaces in shelters for breastfeeding families. We believe that in times of crisis, maintaining a breastfeeding-friendly environment can save lives and protect the health of the most vulnerable members of our community.
North Carolina as a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community
Viewing North Carolina as a community means understanding that our work isn’t confined to individual cities or counties; it extends across the entire state. By applying the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community, we can ensure that families have access to breastfeeding support, even in emergency situations. This includes:
- Creating Safe Spaces in Shelters: Setting up private, supportive areas for mothers to breastfeed or express milk, ensuring that breastfeeding is normalized and encouraged in high-stress environments.
- Providing Sanitation Kits: For families who rely on formula, ensuring access to clean, ready-to-use feeding bottles, safe water, and sterilization methods to prevent illness.
- Offering Trauma-Informed Support: Understanding that many families are dealing with more than just physical hardship, we offer emotional support and lactation counseling that takes into account the trauma they’ve experienced.
Challenges Facing North Carolina
While we’ve made significant progress in advocating for breastfeeding-friendly environments, the storm has highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly in North Carolina’s rural and Appalachian regions. These areas, which have been hit hard by both natural disasters and the opioid crisis, face unique barriers to breastfeeding support. Many healthcare providers are leaving, and access to quality care is diminishing.
For example, staff are facing significant salary cuts, and some families in the region won’t have access to clean water until December. These are the families we must reach, and it’s our duty as a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community to ensure that they don’t fall through the cracks.
Looking Ahead: Building Resilience Through Community
As we continue to respond to the immediate needs of families in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, we must also look toward the future. Building a resilient North Carolina means strengthening our community’s breastfeeding infrastructure now, so we are better prepared for future crises.
Our work with the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and other national organizations is ongoing, we know that true progress will take time. In the meantime, we are committed to working with partners across the state to build a network of support that ensures no family is left behind.
How You Can Help
We invite members of the Breastfeeding Communities to get involved in this important work. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or simply spreading the word about the importance of breastfeeding in emergencies, every action helps strengthen our community.Together, we can make North Carolina a model for what a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community should look like, not only in times of calm but also in moments of crisis.