Breast milk sharing practices in emergency settings

Abstract Background In emergencies, breast milk sharing becomes essential to sustain infant nutrition when access to maternal breastfeeding is disrupted. This study examines donor motivations and assesses the impact of such initiatives on infant health outcomes during wartime. Methods This qualitative study investigated a community of breast milk donors on a Facebook platform for the month following the start of the war on October 7, 2023. We investigated two main groups participating in breast milk sharing through reflective thematic analysis of social media messages. Results A count of posts one month before and after October 7 revealed a doubling in post frequency post-7/10, emphasizing the surge in war-related posts. Two main themes emerged concerning the war: 1. Infant needs: Posts addressed various infant needs, including general necessities and those specific to war-related situations. Requests for milk sharing emerged from the second day of the war, particularly for infants whose mothers were missing or injured. Government information from the National Human Milk Bank was shared within these Facebook groups, encouraging donations for these infants. 2. Donor Motivation: Posts reflected both non-war-related and war-related motivations, with a notable emphasis on the latter. Authors, including both women and men, actively promoted the donation of human milk to conflict-affected areas. Suggestions included pumping milk specifically for war-affected infants or offering frozen human milk. Some posts also offered to collect and deliver human milk to needy infants within the affected regions. Conclusions Post frequency doubled in both Facebook groups compared to the previous month, mainly focusing on war-related topics, indicating an increased drive to share human milk with those affected by the conflict. Key messages • Breast milk sharing, crucial in emergencies, analyzed via social media, sheds light on donor motivations and impacts on infant health during conflicts. • This qualitative study investigated a community of breast milk donors on a Facebook platform for the month following the start of the war on October 7, 2023.