World Breastfeeding Week: Celebrating a Strong Start for Every Baby
Every year from August 1 to August 7, the world observes World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness and increase knowledge about breastfeeding and its numerous benefits. This global campaign gained momentum following a rise in infant mortality linked to a decline in the number of mothers choosing to breastfeed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. However, personal choice remains essential, and no one should feel forced. On this World Breastfeeding Week, let’s support and encourage informed choices about breastfeeding.
Theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2025
This year’s theme, “Prioritize breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems,” calls on governments, health administrators, and partners to invest in strong breastfeeding support. WHO and UNICEF are urging action in the following areas:
- Ensure sufficient funding for equitable, high-quality care for expectant mothers and newborns, including breastfeeding support services.
- Increase national budgets allocated to breastfeeding programs.
- Integrate breastfeeding counseling into standard prenatal, birth, and postnatal care.
- Train all healthcare professionals to effectively support breastfeeding, including during emergencies and humanitarian crises.
- Strengthen community health systems to provide consistent and accessible breastfeeding support for up to two years and beyond.
- Protect breastfeeding by enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes across all healthcare systems.
History of World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week is one of the largest public health campaigns, spearheaded by global organizations such as UNICEF and WHO, and coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). Since its inception in 1992, the campaign has highlighted various issues related to breastfeeding, with themes focusing on women, healthcare systems, and community support.
Since 2016, World Breastfeeding Week has aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing the broader impact of breastfeeding on global development. Throughout the week, various platforms are used to share information and celebrate the often overlooked but fascinating history of breastfeeding.
Historically, breastfeeding was the norm. However, its popularity declined over time, and alternatives such as animal milk began to replace it. In 15th-century Europe, goat and cow milk were common but considered inferior. By the 18th century, wheat or cereal mixed with broth became an alternative, though it proved ineffective for many infants.
The introduction of infant formula in the 19th century led to a significant drop in breastfeeding. By the early 20th century, breastfeeding was even viewed negatively in some countries. This changed when medical professionals began to recognize the negative health consequences of formula feeding. This led to a renewed interest in breastfeeding that emerged in the 1960s and continues today.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the WHO emphasize the importance of breastfeeding for maternal and child health. They recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for at least one to two years with appropriate complementary foods.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Babies and Mothers
Breastfeeding offers more than nourishment. It’s a vital contributor to health and well-being for both baby and mother.
1. Ideal Nutrition for Babies
Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients an infant needs during the first six months. Its composition adapts to the baby’s changing needs, especially in the early days when the mother produces colostrum, a nutrient-rich, antibody-filled milk crucial for the newborn’s development.
2. Boosts Immunity Through Antibodies
Colostrum is packed with immunoglobulin A (IgA), which coats the baby’s digestive and respiratory tracts, creating a protective barrier. These antibodies, passed from the mother, help fight infections, something a formula cannot replicate.
3. Reduces Risk of Diseases
Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of middle ear infections, respiratory illnesses, gut infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. It also lowers the likelihood of chronic conditions like asthma, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and childhood leukemia.
4. Supports Healthy Weight
Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain and lowers the risk of childhood obesity. It supports the development of beneficial gut bacteria and contains hormones like leptin, which help regulate appetite and fat storage.
5. Improves Cognitive Development
Studies suggest that breastfed children may exhibit better brain development, higher IQ scores, and fewer behavioral issues, particularly in premature infants. The physical closeness during breastfeeding may also contribute to emotional and neurological growth.
6. Maternal Health Benefits
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and contributes to better cardiovascular health, improving long-term maternal well-being.
7. Emotional Bonding and Mental Health
Breastfeeding fosters a deep emotional bond between mother and child. This connection supports the mental and emotional health of both, encouraging secure attachment and trust.
8. Cost-Effective and Convenient
Breastfeeding eliminates the need for formula, bottles, and sterilization, saving both time and money. Breast milk is always ready, at the perfect temperature, and needs no preparation.
How to Celebrate Breastfeeding Week
a. Share the Benefits
Use social media or community platforms to raise awareness about the positive effects of breastfeeding on child development and maternal health.
b. Tell Your Story
Share your breastfeeding journey—the challenges, the victories, and what you’ve learned. Your story might empower others.
c. Join a Support Group
Find a breastfeeding support group to share experiences, gain confidence, and receive guidance from professionals and peers.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding can be challenging, especially in the beginning. But with the right support, knowledge, and encouragement, it often becomes one of the most fulfilling parts of motherhood. During World Breastfeeding Week, let’s recognize the strength of mothers, the importance of informed choices, and the life-changing power of breastfeeding. Supporting breastfeeding means supporting better health, stronger families, and a brighter future for every child.
