But we should also do more to overcome an obstacle that prevents potentially millions of women from breastfeeding: Workplace policies that do not support the right of working mothers to breastfeed their babies on the job. He was born to breastfeed, this baby. Our challenge now is to make breastfeeding work in the workplace, too.
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Though the decision to breastfeed is personal, it is one that is likely to draw strong opinions from friends, family and the community at large and as such women need holistic support to carry through their breastfeeding decision effectively and safely for their babies. It is estimated that more than 14,000 people around the world participated in the Big Latch On.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated from August 1 to 7 every year over 120 countries worldwide. This year’s spotlight: “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work”.
WBW 2015 campaign aims to empower and support all women, working in both the formal and informal sectors, to adequately combine work with child-rearing, particularly breastfeeding.
For many women, 6 to 12 months of breastfeeding means dealing with breastfeeding while working. Many celebrities have jumped into the debate in support of breastfeeding. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor. Perez Hilton has a list of them all. Isla Fisher said breastfeeding can help moms to naturally go back to shape after being pregnant. “I get quite emotional thinking back about it now”.
She says the decline in breastfeeding began with the advent of infant formula in the late 1800s.
“There are only 27 percent of mothers who can continue feeding babies with breast milk for four months”. This was proven by Salma Hayek when in 2009 she breastfed a newborn baby in Sierra Leone.
Aoife with her son Dillon.
Retired director of the directorate of health services, Atul Chandra Sarma said in an interview, “The main focus on the first day of the week was laid on setting up proper facilities in public places like buses or railways stations so that mothers are at ease to feed their babies”.
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We know that breastfeeding helps children to survive and thrive enabling infants to withstand infections, providing critical nutrients for the early development of their brains and bodies, and strengthening the bond between mothers and their babies. It also protects mothers from developing breast and ovarian cancer.
