Each year breastfeeding advocates in over 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) during the first week of August. WBW was started by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in an effort to protect, promote and support breastfeeding on a global level. All around the world lactivists (lactation activists) will celebrate by engaging in letter writing campaigns, holding fundraisers and staging nurse-ins to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding. Find out what is being done in your community to promote breastfeeding and to support breastfeeding mothers by contacting the local La Leche League chapter.
This year's theme for WBW is Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (The Code) which seeks to restrict aggressive marketing practices by infant formula companies. Proper implementation of the Code ensures that mothers fully understand the benefits of breastfeeding and are able to make an informed choice about how to feed their newborn. To participate in the Code Watch let the WABA know how formula companies are advertising and promoting their products in your area.
Lactivists promote breastmilk as the best source of nourishment for an infant because it provides a multitude of health benefits. Breastfed babies are less likely than formula fed babies to develop gastrointestinal, ear or respiratory infections as well as many types of allergies. It also reduces a child's risk of being afflicted by SIDS and childhood obesity. Breastfed infants that do become sick are able to recover sooner than formula fed babies since the breastfed infants receive antibodies from their mother's breastmilk. Children are protected by these antibodies until their immune systems mature.
Mothers that choose to breastfeed receive many health benefits as well. They experience minimal uterine bleeding and are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding mothers are also able to lose their pregnancy weight faster since producing milk requires a mother to use more energy and burn more calories. Natural birth spacing is another result of exclusive breastfeeding. During the first six months after an infant's birth a breastfeeding mother is unable to conceive due to the absence of her menstrual periods. This pause in her cycle allows her to give her baby the necessary attention and care that he or she needs.
In addition to providing unparalleled health benefits to both a mother and her infant, a breastfeeding relationship allows the two of them to develop a close emotional bond. Experts encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months to ensure that their children receive the full health benefits.
As WBW celebrations grow each year, lactivists are able to educate more parents on the advantages that breastfeeding has to offer. By taking part in your community's celebration or planning an event of your own, you can help breastfeeding gain worldwide acceptance as the most nutritional method for feeding infants.
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