# of children that die each day b/c they are not BF

[J2]

How many children die each day because they are not breastfed? Like in other countries because they don't have clean water for formula and such.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by laurabelle1317

How many children die each day because they are not breastfed? Like in other countries because they don't have clean water for formula and such.

I have to be honest in that even as an extended BFing, no FFing ever Mama, I really dislike that phrasing. It automatically puts FFing women on the defensive, and, in my experience, doing so accomplishes nothing.

How about, "How many infants in 3rd world countries die because their formula is mixed with contaminated water?"

Just a thought.


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[carriebft]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed.

divide that by days in a year and you will get a rough estimate.

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

I have to be honest in that even as an extended BFing, no FFing ever Mama, I really dislike that phrasing. It automatically puts FFing women on the defensive, and, in my experience, doing so accomplishes nothing.

How about, "How many infants in 3rd world countries die because their formula is mixed with contaminated water?"

Just a thought.


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They don't only die becuase of contaminated water. That is a huge problem, but other disease as well as bacteria in formula such as Enterobacter Sakazakii also contribute...as well as all the things that formula raises the risk of (which, if breastfed, the children could have protection against). Also, SIDS...so there's a lot more to it than just water.

It is also not just a 'third world' or 'developing world' problem. Babies could be saved in the USA if more women breastfed. They could be saved in Canada and Denmark and NOrway...In Britain and France and Spain...

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by carriebft

They don't only die becuase of contaminated water. That is a huge problem, but other disease as well as bacteria in formula such as Enterobacter Sakazakii also contribute...as well as all the things that formula raises the risk of (which, if breastfed, the children could have protection against). Also, SIDS...so there's a lot more to it than just water.

It is also not just a 'third world' or 'developing world' problem. Babies could be saved in the USA if more women breastfed. They could be saved in Canada and Denmark and NOrway...In Britain and France and Spain...

I see what you are saying, and my sentence was only one example of a way in which you might be more specific. Some people use goat's milk as well, thus making those babies "not breastfed." From what I have read, the deaths of non-breastfed babies have other contributing factors than just the lack of breastmilk.

[AngelBee]

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[carriebft]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

I see what you are saying, and my sentence was only one example of a way in which you might be more specific. Some people use goat's milk as well, thus making those babies "not breastfed." From what I have read, the deaths of non-breastfed babies have other contributing factors than just the lack of breastmilk.

Things such as 'inadequate substitutes' could definitely be added to the list. I think the OP is looking for a number that encompasses all these reasons; hence the WHO number divided by days would seem to give a good starting point.

I thought that you were suggesting that your idea:

"How many infants in 3rd world countries die because their formula is mixed with contaminated water?"

could be used in replace of the phrasing the OP used, which I do not see as possible. It focuses the lens far too much (and catering to the way many people see the risks of not breastfeeding as being a 'third world' issue.)

[Starr]

Children, sadly, can die for a number of reasons. I'm not sure you'd be able to put the blame solely on formula feeding. Sure in many under developed countries the water isn't the cleaniest. While that may be a huge it, the forumla being tainted, you also have to look at other conditions as well. Malaria, typhoid, AIDS, malnutrition... other events play a huge role. In the US if an infant dies due to SIDS whose to know for sure that wouldn't have happened if they were breastfed. Other factors can increase the chance of SIDS besides formula use, smoking, sleeping postitions. I'm sorry if this is coming across as defending formula feeding but you really need to look at the big picture, such as whats the purpose of this question?

[carriebft]

SOme people are swayed by stats...and there are many who feel that "formula is fine." Lots of people don't know the risks of formula may lead to something more than an ear infection or constipation.

I think the Innocenti Declaration and the 2005 revisiting of the Declaration addressed this question because it is real. By bringing attention to the staggering numbers of children who are saved by breastmilk and the numbers of those who could be saved, they have inspired a lot of work and movement.

Baby Milk Action, for example, relies heavily on the Declaration in their work.

(obviously this goes beyond just the declarationbut also the work of UNICEF and the WHO in general)

[carriebft]

OP, you may also look to the recently passed World Breastfeeding Week. The slogan was :

Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour
Save ONE million babies!


There is a lot of material available on this topic here:

http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

[tarajean56]

Also, are we talking about babies who get NO breastmilk, babies who get it for 6 months, etc...

[carriebft]

Yeah, I would stick with something specific if you want to discuss a number. Talk about saving one million babies with breastfeeding initiation (see WBW site for more info) or talk about the WHO number and how they came to that number (which you can find info on on the UNICEF site as well as babymilkaction.org).


It would be nice to have a stat like "4,000 a day" (unicef number divided by 365), but there's a lot of info in there that the number leaves out. Though this number is suppose to be with NO breastfeeding:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed.

Also, there is an AAP publication out there, which I dont have on hand, which gives about 700 deaths in the USA which could be prevented or delayed with breastfeeding. So using that number would need those qualifiers.

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by Starr

Children, sadly, can die for a number of reasons. I'm not sure you'd be able to put the blame solely on formula feeding. Sure in many under developed countries the water isn't the cleaniest. While that may be a huge it, the forumla being tainted, you also have to look at other conditions as well. Malaria, typhoid, AIDS, malnutrition... other events play a huge role. In the US if an infant dies due to SIDS whose to know for sure that wouldn't have happened if they were breastfed. Other factors can increase the chance of SIDS besides formula use, smoking, sleeping postitions. I'm sorry if this is coming across as defending formula feeding but you really need to look at the big picture, such as whats the purpose of this question?

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[BCFD]

Originally Posted by Starr

Children, sadly, can die for a number of reasons. I'm not sure you'd be able to put the blame solely on formula feeding. Sure in many under developed countries the water isn't the cleaniest. While that may be a huge it, the forumla being tainted, you also have to look at other conditions as well. Malaria, typhoid, AIDS, malnutrition... other events play a huge role. In the US if an infant dies due to SIDS whose to know for sure that wouldn't have happened if they were breastfed. Other factors can increase the chance of SIDS besides formula use, smoking, sleeping postitions. I'm sorry if this is coming across as defending formula feeding but you really need to look at the big picture, such as whats the purpose of this question?

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