Welcome to World Breastfeeding Week 2024. Here’s why we celebrate at Helensville Birthing Centre.

August 1, 2024 2:13 pm

World Breastfeeding week is here! That’s right, the first week of August each year is dedicated to the global campaign to raise awareness and inspire action on a specific theme related to breastfeeding.

 

 

What’s this year’s theme?

 

2024’s theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”.

 

We know every māmā is different, and this year’s campaign aims to make sure every breastfeeding person has the same access to support.

 

This theme aims to minimise inequities worldwide, with a special focus on breastfeeding in the time of emergencies and crises – leaving no-one behind.

 

Making breastfeeding accessible to everyone also ties into how whānau, societies, communities, healthcare workers and policymakers can support, encourage and educate every mum – from the very beginning of their breastfeeding journey and for as long as they choose to breastfeed.

 

What are the key messages for “Closing The Gap: Breastfeeding Support For All”?

 

  • Inform us on the inequalities between breastfeeding women worldwide
  • Anchor breastfeeding as an equaliser to minimise societal gaps
  • Engage to increase support and collaboration for breastfeeding
  • Galvanise action on reducing inequalities of support in vulnerable groups

 

These key messages are driven by recognising that breastfeeding māmā around the world (both in cities and rurally) need policies, attitudes and healthcare systems which value everyone’s right to breastfeed.

 

What’s the goal of World Breastfeeding Week?

 

The goal of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), is to:

 

  • improve the health of pēpi
  • promote, protect and support the rights of women to breastfeed wherever, wherever.

 

 

By 2025, their goal is to:

 

  • increase the percentage of babies under six months who are exclusively breastfed to 50%.

 

With last year’s total at 48%, this goal is within reach and a real push is being made to “Close The Gap”.

 

 

When was the first World Breastfeeding Week?

 

In 1990 a collection of policy makers from WHO and the “United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund” (UNICEF) met in Florence, Italy to create a global initiative called the “Innocenti Declaration” – essentially an important article on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.

 

They created a global goal for all māmā worldwide to be supported in exclusive breastfeeding.

 

This came from health research, which found for optimal health all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to 4-6 months of age, then continue to be breastfed along with complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond.

 

The first World Breastfeeding Week was two years later in 1992, with the theme “The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative”.

 

Since then, some yearly themes have been:

 

  • “Breastfeeding: It’s Your Right!”
  • “Breastfeeding in the Information Age”
  • “Breastfeeding and Family Foods”
  • “Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour – Save ONE million babies”.

 

 

Why was World Breastfeeding Week created?

 

The declaration recognised breastfeeding as a unique process that achieves all these goals:

 

  • provides ideal nutrition for infants
  • contributes to their healthy growth and development
  • benefits mothers’ health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer
  • decreases the severity and incidences of infectious diseases.

 

 

They needed to generate public awareness of these benefits, and ensure mothers are helped through the process with education and support.

 

World Breastfeeding Week does this by bringing people together from different sectors to achieve community goals, to share up-to-date information and tools for us all to act, and to encourage sustained action in the year’s theme over the year.

 

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) runs the campaign each year, which is made up of organisations and individuals worldwide with a passion to protect and support breastfeeding for all mothers.

 

 

What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding in the event of an emergency?

 

We all know that we can’t control everything, especially the weather, so for a worst-case scenario an “Emergency Infant Feeding Plan Template” has been created for this year’s theme of breastfeeding through crises.

 

You can download the template here. This form will help you prepare for a minimum of 72 hours in the event you have limited access to clean and safe water in times of an emergency – for example an infectious outbreak, a flood, or earthquake.

 

Simply download the template, write your plan and print or save it to your phone.  The campaign also encourages us to send it to our friends and whānau so they can be prepared too.

 

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your pēpi?

 

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies, while also protecting against short and long-term illnesses. Research has found breast fed infants are less likely to have ear infections, stomach bugs, asthma and obesity. The antibodies also help to grow strong immune systems, keeping your babies healthier as they grow.

 

We know breastfeeding is not always easy or an option – access non-judgmental support.

 

Whatever you’re going through on your feeding journey, please don’t feel like you have to go through it alone. You can speak to one of our experienced lactation consultants, join our Facebook group or chat to our local Breastfeeding Peer Supporters about any challenges you’re facing.

 

For more information on these free services, please visit our website here.

 

You can also read an extensive range of breastfeeding information here.

 

And don’t forget, you’re also very welcome to come visit our drop-in clinic any time – we’re open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 3pm. Follow us on Instagram @te_ha_tama_ariki for the latest news and details on our workshops.