World Breast Feeding Week
Healthy Living.
The first week of August is World Breast Feeding Week. This week is an opportunity to learn about breastfeeding and its benefits, celebrate breastfeeding, raise awareness, and support breastfeeding mothers. Whether you are a nursing mother or just someone who wants to learn more and celebrate the breastfeeding women in your life, there are lots of ways to participate in this week.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
There are many benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and their mothers. Evidence suggests that breastfed babies may have a smaller chance of experiencing health problems. This is because breast milk contains hormones and antibodies that fight infections. Additionally, breast milk is full of important fats, vitamins, and nutrients that keep babies healthy and promote growth.
Breastfeeding has benefits for mothers too. It can decrease anxiety and the risk of heart disease and increase bone strength.
How to Participate in World Breastfeeding Week
- Share your experience: While more and more mothers in the U.S. choose to breastfeed their babies, less than half of mothers continue to breastfeed past 6 months. This is, in part, due to the lack of support for breastfeeding. By sharing your story, you can help raise awareness and normalize breastfeeding. This can create support and encouragement for other moms.
- Make time for self-care: Being a mom is one of the most exciting but also most exhausting things. Breastfeeding can contribute greatly to the exhaustion that comes with motherhood. It is important for nursing mothers to prioritize self-care. One way to do this is by finding a supportive community. There are many breastfeeding support groups intended to create support, encouragement, and education for nursing mothers.
- Additionally, nursing mothers should take time to unplug from social media, work, and other distractions and really enjoy the sweet moment of breastfeeding their children. It is a great opportunity to bond with your child and care for both yourself and your baby.
- Celebrate a nursing mom: If you aren’t a nursing mother, there are still ways you can participate in World Breastfeeding Week. Celebrate the nursing mothers in your life by writing an encouraging note or taking the time to listen to a nursing mom’s experience. Ask the nursing moms in your life what you can do to support them. If your mom breastfed you as a baby, thank her for the time and care she provided you with.
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