Hello everyone, and welcome to our weekly blog post! Today we take a look at World Breastfeeding Week, a campaign backed by multiple international organizations that takes place every first week of August. It is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness and encourage breastfeeding as a vital way to provide optimal nutrition and nurture the bond between a mother and her child. This week serves as a reminder of the countless benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers and emphasizes the importance of support and education for successful breastfeeding journeys.

WBW 2023

This year’s theme will focus on breastfeeding and work, providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding – maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks, ideally more than 6 months, and workplace accommodations after this point. These are urgent issues for ensuring women can breastfeed as long as they wish to do so: more than half a billion working women are not given basic maternity provisions; many more find themselves unsupported when they go back to work. The following items are some of the key messages of World Breastfeeding Week 2023:.

• Making breastfeeding at work, work, makes societies work! Breastfeeding provides vital health and nutritional benefits for children with positive lifelong impacts, building healthier populations – and workforces – for the future.
• Women shouldn’t have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their jobs. Breastfeeding support is possible regardless of workplace, sector, or contract type.
• Effective maternity protections improve children’s and women’s health and increase breastfeeding. And yet, at present, more than half a billion working women lack access to vital maternity provisions; many more find themselves unsupported when they go back to work. 
• All women everywhere – no matter their work – should have
  • At least 18 weeks, preferably more than 6 months, paid maternity leave;
  • Paid time off for breastfeeding or expressing milk upon returning to work;
  • Flexible return to work options.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breast milk is often referred to as “nature’s elixir,” and rightfully so. Packed with essential nutrients, antibodies, and enzymes, breast milk offers infants a powerful start in life. Its composition evolves to meet the changing needs of the growing baby, providing tailored nutrition that cannot be replicated by any formula. From boosting the immune system to promoting healthy growth and development, breast milk lays the foundation for a strong and vibrant life. Beyond the physical nourishment, breastfeeding fosters a deep emotional connection between a mother and her child. The act of breastfeeding releases hormones like oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which enhances the bond between them. This nurturing touch and skin-to-skin contact promote a sense of security and comfort for the infant, contributing to their emotional well-being.

The Challenges with Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always easy. Many mothers face challenges such as latch difficulties, milk supply concerns, and even societal pressure. World Breastfeeding Week provides an opportunity to shed light on these challenges and the importance of providing mothers with the right support and resources. Lactation consultants, support groups, and understanding workplaces play a vital role in ensuring that mothers can breastfeed successfully.

How to improve Breastfeeding for Working Women

Policymakers can make breastfeeding and work, work by

• Legislating at least 18 weeks, preferably more than 6 months, paid maternity leave
• Ensuring employers provide paid time off and a dedicated space for breastfeeding or expressing milk after this period
• Ensuring all women have access to maternity entitlements, including those in the informal sector or on limited contracts
• Tackling employment-related discrimination against women, including during and after pregnancy and birth

Employers and managers can make breastfeeding and work, work by

• Providing maternity leave that – at minimum – meets national requirements
• Providing time and space for breastfeeding or expressing and storing breastmilk
• Providing options that reduce separation of women from their babies after maternity leave, such as:
  • Flexible work schedules
  • On-site childcare
  • Teleworking
  • Part-time work
  • Letting mothers bring their babies to work

Of course, these changes will require large amounts of work to make them become a reality. But by playing our own parts, we can make sure that women are able to breastfeed their children and still work to the best of their abilities.

Conclusion

World Breastfeeding Week celebrates the incredible journey of nourishment and connection that breastfeeding offers. It’s a time to honor the bond between mothers and their infants, promote education about the benefits of breastfeeding, and advocate for a supportive environment that enables mothers to breastfeed successfully. As we observe this week, let’s remember that each breastfeeding journey is unique, and every effort made towards providing the best start in life is worth celebrating.

So, whether you’re a breastfeeding mother, a partner, a family member, or a friend, join in this celebration of life, love, and the remarkable power of breastfeeding. Have a great week!