World Breastfeeding Week 2017

Sustaining Breastfeeding Together

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) started World Breastfeeding Week 25 years ago.  It is held worldwide each year from August 1-7th.  This year’s theme is ‘sustaining breastfeeding together’.

In September 2015, world leaders committed to 17 goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity.  These became the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WABA has linked these goals to breastfeeding.

From the World Breastfeeding Week website:
#WBW2017 will call on advocates and activists, decision-makers and celebrants to forge new and purposeful partnerships. Together, let’s attract political support, media attention, participation of young people and widen our pool of celebrants and supporters. 

Only then can we campaign for a generation and commit to achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Knowing that breastfeeding can impact these goals is very impressive! We are a very important part of this fundamental movement to make our world a better place.  If you want to know more on the World Breastfeeding Week's goals, you can visit the website.

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Sometimes it seems silly to bring ‘awareness’ to something that is so natural and instinctual, but I see the necessity. I see it everyday that a new mom feels embarrassed or ashamed to be nourishing her child with her body. Everyday that a mother is told her child doesn’t need to nurse anymore. Everyday that a mother is given non-scientific, misleading advice from a medical professional. Breastfeeding must be supported and celebrated! It is truly a beautiful thing.

How will you be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week?