World Breastfeeding Week is is held in the first week of August every year.
The event is supported by WHO, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed
The theme this year is Breast Feeding Support for all
The campaign will celebrate breastfeeding mums in all their diversity, throughout their breast feeding journeys, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mum. For more information visit the World Health Organisation website and World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
Many women do not breastfeed for as long as they would like.
To make breastfeeding work they need;
- Trained health care workers providing breastfeeding counselling during pregnancy, at birth and for two years following birth.
- Paid time off for breastfeeding or providing breastmilk after returning to work.
- Adequate paid parental leave after the birth of a baby.
- Investment in breastfeeding programmes.
- Support and encouragement from partners and family.
- Protection from formula marketing that undermines confidence in breastfeeding.
Some of the benefits of breastfeeding are:
- your breast milk meets all of your baby’s nutritional needs
- breast milk protects your baby from infections and diseases
- breastfeeding provides health benefits for you
- breast milk is available for your baby whenever your baby needs it
- breastfeeding can build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
For more information visit the NHS website
For local breastfeeding support visit the Breastfeeding Network