According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Turkey Earthquake Status Report on the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that took place on 6 February; Of the estimated 226 thousand pregnant women in the disaster area, 25 thousand are expected to give birth this month. Liv Hospital Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Elif Erdem Özcan pointed out that breastfeeding is more important than ever for babies in the disaster area and gave information on the protection of infant health.

“The difficulty of living conditions in the disaster area will also affect newborn babies. While still in the womb, the mother’s infections due to adverse environmental conditions may also affect the baby; It can cause premature birth or the baby to experience various health problems after birth,” said Specialist Dr. Elif Erdem Özcan reminded vital interventions for newborn babies:

“Hygienic and safe delivery in health institutions is extremely important for infant health. Cutting the baby’s navel under sterile conditions, maintaining postnatal body temperature, meeting with the mother as soon as she is born and starting breastfeeding, which is the “first vaccine”, and administering vitamin K and hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth are vital interventions for the baby.

Breast milk is even more important in disaster conditions!

Pointing out that breast milk is the most reliable source of nutrition for babies and that breastfeeding is even more important during disasters, Expert Dr. Elif Erdem Özcan “ Mother’s milk is always ready and contains all kinds of nutrients that the baby needs. In disaster situations, it is mother’s milk that will protect babies from diseases that can be transmitted through contaminated, infected water. It is the greatest protector against diarrhea and respiratory tract infections, which can be fatal and develop collectively.”

Stress does not interfere with breastfeeding

Saying that mothers may be under stress due to the difficult and tiring conditions in the disaster area, this will not prevent breastfeeding the baby. Dr. Elif Erdem Özcan “Milk release can be affected by stress. However, this situation improves immediately with frequent breastfeeding. Studies have shown that mothers behave more resilient to stress if they breastfeed their babies. For this reason, the support and help given to the mother in breastfeeding increases the mother’s resistance to stress. In addition, keeping in mind that breastfeeding is the most important thing that increases breast milk, extreme care should be taken in the use of formula products, baby milks and other nutritional products that can replace breast milk, which are distributed in a way that prevents mothers from breastfeeding. Unless necessary, these products should not be given to the baby, and when necessary, much more attention should be paid to ensuring hygienic and safe use.

Baby Care in Disaster Conditions

Liv Hospital Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Elif Erdem Özcan reminded what should not be neglected for mother-baby health even in disaster situations:

It is very important to perform congenital metabolic disease screening tests of newborn babies, which are examined with a few drops of blood sample taken from the heel, in order to prevent diseases that may occur in the future and affect the mental and physical development of the baby. Even if the babies born in the disaster area leave the area, these tests should be taken at the nearest health institutions.
Hearing screening, which is recommended to be done within 72 hours after birth, should also be applied to babies within 1 month at the latest in cases where conditions are not suitable.
Collective living conditions and failure to maintain a temperature balance increase the risk of respiratory tract infections such as common cold, flu, pneumonia and bronchitis for the mother and her newborn baby.
Access to clean water and food for the mother and her baby is very important to protect them from diseases that affect the gastrointestinal system such as diarrhea, vomiting and dysentery.
Whenever possible, mothers and babies should stay together; should receive the most appropriate nutrition, shelter, hygiene and social support they need.

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency