Breastfeeding provides every child with the best possible start in life. It delivers health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both children and mothers. And it forms part of a sustainable food system. But while breastfeeding is a natural process, it is not always easy. Mothers need support – both to get started and to sustain breastfeeding.

Why is World Breastfeeding Week important

World Breastfeeding Week aims to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to the health and welfare of babies and benefits to maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction, and food security.

Skilled counselling services can ensure that mothers and families receive this support, along with the information, the advice, and the reassurance they need to nourish their babies optimally. Breastfeeding counselling can help mothers to build confidence while respecting their individual circumstances and choices. Counselling can empower women to overcome challenges and prevent feeding and care practices that may interfere with optimal breastfeedings, such as the provision of unnecessary liquids, foods, and breastmilk substitutes to infants and young children.

How to observe World Breastfeeding Week

• To support mothers through peer groups to promote, establish, and carry on breastfeeding by informing families of the benefits of Peer Counseling.
• To educate and train health care practitioners to provide support to mothers and babies in effective ways.
• Call governments to action to recognise the importance of the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and provide legislation to support a breastfeeding mother.
• To deepen knowledge within the community to enhance, promote, and protect breastfeeding.

Tip:

In order to celebrate today effectively, here is a list of resources you can use to make the day special – or to plan ahead 

• Reasons to support breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding toolkit

Reference Sites

• UN and other international NGO
• Non-Profits website for the observance