The Importance of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Estimated read time: 8 minutes

Ever wondered why there is a whole month dedicated to breastfeeding awareness? 

Well, breastfeeding can be incredibly hard — we know this firsthand. And breastfeeding is not talked about nearly enough. This also means that breastfeeding is not celebrated enough either.

Over 300,000 people give birth each day and it's shocking to know that so many of these mothers do not have the support they need to breastfeed.

At Titty City Design, we celebrate breastfeeding all year round. In fact, our founder has been building a community on Instagram that normalizes talking about breastfeeding, communicating what our bodies go through, and especially celebrating all the long, tiring hours that go into breastfeeding. 

We feel it is so important to acknowledge and celebrate your breastfeeding milestones and all the sacrifices that are made to feed your child.

In this article:

• When is National Breastfeeding Month?
• What is National Breastfeeding Month?
• Why is National Breastfeeding Month Important?
• How to participate and support National Breastfeeding Awareness Month
• Supporting breastfeeding moms in the workplace
• How to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month
• The Boobment

When is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month?

Every year, during the month of August, the United States comes together to celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.

In fact, the first week of August, the 1st through the 7th is celebrated as World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) where across the globe breastfeeding awareness has a special spotlight. Breastfeeding Awareness Month began in 2011, when World Breastfeeding Week was extended to include the whole month of August!

The significance of breastfeeding extends far beyond just nutrition. It encompasses a unique bond between mother and child and contributes to the overall health and well-being of both parties.

What is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month?

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is an annual campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). It runs throughout August and serves as a platform to promote and support breastfeeding as the best and most natural way to nourish infants. 

The campaign strives to highlight the many benefits of breastfeeding while also addressing the challenges and barriers faced by breastfeeding mothers. By fostering understanding and acceptance, the month-long celebration encourages communities to support breastfeeding mothers, allowing them to nurse their children comfortably and confidently.

 

 

Why is National Breastfeeding Month Important?

National Breastfeeding Month aims to promote breastfeeding as the norm for feeding babies and young children and the beneficial nutrition source that breast milk provides. It aims to inform about the protections that breastfeeding offers to babies and children against diseases in childhood and throughout life, along with the strong emotional bond it forms between lactating parents and children. In addition, National Breastfeeding Month also seeks to encourage workplaces to support lactating parents.

Here are some more of the key elements that the National Breastfeeding Month promotes:

Optimal Nutrition for Infants

Breast milk is nature's perfect food for newborns. It is packed with essential nutrients and antibodies that boost a baby's immune system, protecting them against various infections and illnesses. Breast milk is easy to digest, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal issues in infants.

Empowering Mothers

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month empowers mothers by promoting breastfeeding as a natural and essential aspect of maternal care. By supporting breastfeeding mothers, society helps them feel more confident and comfortable while nursing in public spaces and workplaces

Bonding and Emotional Development

Breastfeeding fosters a unique bond between mother and child. Physical contact and skin-to-skin touch during nursing promote emotional connections and strengthen the mother-infant relationship. This bond plays a pivotal role in the baby's emotional development and overall well-being.

Long-Term Health Benefits

Breastfeeding provides numerous health advantages for both the baby and the mother. Studies have shown that breastfed infants have a lower risk of chronic conditions like obesity, asthma, and type 2 diabetes later in life. For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer, and aids in postpartum weight loss.

Environmental Impact

Breastfeeding is also environmentally friendly as it reduces the need for formula production, packaging, and transportation. It leaves a significantly lower carbon footprint, making it an eco-conscious choice for caring for infants.

Financial Savings

Choosing to breastfeed over formula feeding can result in substantial cost savings for families. Formula feeding can be expensive, and breastfeeding can significantly alleviate the financial burden associated with infant nutrition, although we would like to add that a breastfeeding mother's time and effort are highly valuable, and in no way do we suggest that breastfeeding is free.

How to participate and support National Breastfeeding Month

Educate Yourself and Others

The first step in supporting National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is to educate yourself and others about the benefits of breastfeeding. Spread awareness about the nutritional, emotional, and environmental advantages of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Share articles (like this one), attend webinars or participate in local events to learn more about the topic.

Create Supportive Environments         

Communities, workplaces, and public spaces can play a crucial role in supporting breastfeeding mothers. Create supportive environments that encourage and accommodate nursing mothers. Ensure that public spaces have designated breastfeeding areas and provide comfortable seating and privacy for mothers who wish to breastfeed their babies.

Host Local Events and Workshops

Organize local events and workshops during National Breastfeeding Awareness Month to raise awareness and provide resources to mothers and families. Invite lactation consultants, healthcare professionals, and experienced mothers to share their knowledge and experiences. These events can help dispel myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding and provide practical tips and solutions.      

Encourage Breastfeeding-Friendly Policies

Encourage local businesses, workplaces, and healthcare facilities to implement breastfeeding-friendly policies. Advocate for longer maternity leave, flexible work hours for nursing mothers, and comfortable lactation rooms in workplaces. Share with your workplace about the PUMP Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Engage on Social Media

In the digital age, social media can be a powerful tool to raise awareness about National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Make sure to check out our social channels (@tittycitydesign) Share informative posts, success stories, and empowering messages to promote the importance of breastfeeding. Use relevant hashtags to join the global conversation.

Support Local Breastfeeding Support Groups

Support local breastfeeding support groups and organizations. These groups provide a safe space for mothers to share their experiences, seek guidance, and form a sense of community with other breastfeeding mothers. Volunteering or donating to these organizations can make a significant impact on supporting breastfeeding mothers.    

 

Supporting Breastfeeding Moms in the workplace

Supporting breastfeeding moms and educating both mothers and local communities and workplaces are crucial aspects of promoting breastfeeding during National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

This month, suggest a discussion with your employer and coworkers about the importance of supporting breastfeeding employees. Companies can host meetings and workshops to raise awareness among staff members about the benefits of breastfeeding and create a welcoming environment for nursing mothers.

In addition, help shape the policies by encouraging your workplace to create an environment where mothers can bring their best selves to work. This can be done by implementing breastfeeding-friendly policies, such as flexible work hours, remote work, and designated lactation rooms.

How to Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month

Let’s unite and get the word out! Here are 8 simple ways you can celebrate!

• Celebrate your own breastfeeding journey and commemorate it with a keepsake to remind you how incredible you are.
• Cheer on a new birthing parent by simply texting them to check in and offer any support and encouragement. Even better, send them an encouraging gift and handwritten note to let them know how amazing they are doing.
• Reshare breastfeeding content on your social media
• Support organizations that are helping the cause
• Talk about breastfeeding with your family and friends (including birthing parents and non-birthing parents)
• Share your own experience – Trust us! This is super important! Birthing parents will benefit so much from you telling your stories.
• Reach out to your employers and ask how they support breastfeeding parents and how they plan to accommodate them.
• Demand action from your government officials for the support breastfeeding parents need including federal paid family leave, paid lactation support, paid childcare support, and paid mental health support for new parents.

Be part of The Boobment! 

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is a critical campaign that sheds light on the numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. In fact, we started a social movement called, "The Boobment," where it is encouraged to share your own breastfeeding experiences to help normalize breastfeeding

By supporting this initiative, we not only celebrate the natural bond between a mother and her child but also contribute to the long-term health and well-being of our communities. As we educate ourselves and others about the importance of breastfeeding and create supportive environments for nursing mothers, we take an essential step towards a healthier, more nurturing society.

Let us use National Breastfeeding Awareness Month as a platform to foster an environment where breastfeeding is embraced and celebrated, and every mother feels empowered and supported on their breastfeeding and motherhood journey. 

Celebrate Breastfeeding With Us!

Join us in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, every day by connecting with us on Instagram and becoming part of our communi-titty. Sign up to be a VIT (Very Important Titty) to be Breasties with us!

At Titty City Design, we believe that every boobie is beautiful, and that should be celebrated. We are a female-owned and operated, small business here to spread self-love and body positivity with our line of boob apparel, boob accessories, and boob-themed decor and products for the home. A portion of our proceeds goes to help support postpartum people and breast cancer patients.

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