From 1st to 7th August, we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)—a global movement to raise awareness and improve support for breastfeeding around the world.
This year’s theme is:
“Closing the Gap: Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet.”
It’s a powerful reminder that while breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always easy. And most importantly—it’s not just the responsibility of the birthing parent. For breastfeeding to be successful and sustainable, support needs to come from everywhere: family, friends, healthcare, communities, and workplaces.
Why breastfeeding matters—for you and the planet 🌍
Breastfeeding has many known benefits:
- Supports bonding and emotional connection
- Strengthens baby’s immune system
- Reduces the risk of illness in both baby and parent
- Promotes healthy development
- Can support postnatal recovery
But what we often forget is that breastfeeding is also better for the planet.
It’s a natural, low-waste, zero-packaging, zero-emissions way to feed a baby. No shipping, no energy-intensive production, no plastic bottles—just your body, doing what it was designed to do.
So what’s the gap?
Even though the benefits of breastfeeding are clear, many people still struggle—and not because they don’t want to breastfeed. Often, the issue is lack of support.
Common challenges include:
- Short or no parental leave
- Returning to work too soon
- No private or comfortable space to express milk
- Mixed messages or poor advice from healthcare providers
- Cultural stigma or embarrassment about feeding in public
- A lack of community, connection, or understanding
It can feel lonely. It can feel overwhelming. And sometimes, it can feel easier to stop than to keep going.
That’s the gap this year’s WBW theme is talking about.
What does real support look like?
Support is more than encouraging words (though those help too!). It means real, practical action:
👨👩👧👦 Family support – A partner who cooks meals and does the housework can make all the difference.
🏢 Workplace support – Paid leave, flexible hours, and spaces to express milk are vital.
🧑⚕️ Healthcare support – Consistent, evidence-based, and compassionate guidance should be standard.
🌍 Community support – Breastfeeding needs to be normalised in public spaces, online, and in our conversations.
Your feeding journey is yours
Whether you breastfeed exclusively, combination feed, pump, or formula-feed, what matters most is feeling informed, empowered, and supported.
If you’re currently breastfeeding (or planning to), know this:
You’re not alone. There are people who want to support you. There are resources, groups, and professionals who understand.
If you’re returning to work, navigating feeding challenges, or unsure of your options—reach out. It shouldn’t be up to you to do it all on your own.
Let’s close the gap, together
This World Breastfeeding Week, let’s commit to doing more than raising awareness. Let’s take action—at home, at work, in healthcare, and in public.
Because when breastfeeding is supported, everyone benefits: babies, families, and our beautiful planet.
💛 You don’t have to do this alone.
#WorldBreastfeedingWeek #WBW2025 #BreastfeedingSupport #FeedingJourney #HealthierPlanet #SustainableParenting #ParentingSupport #InfantFeeding #InformedChoice #PostnatalCare #CommunityMatters
Leave a Reply