Breastfeeding Week 2025 Supporting Mothers, Strengthening Society -

DIETICIAN ASMA JAN

Breastfeeding is a natural way for mothers to supply their infants with all the nutrition and food they need for the first six months of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as WHO recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of an infants life.
World breastfeeding week is global campaign celebrated from 1 st august to 7th August in order to aware and encourage women for breastfeeding.
Awareness is given not only to breastfeeding women but also all the others like father’s, mother’s, mother-in-laws so that they can give support to breastfeeding mother’s.
Theme for 2025:
Prioritise Breastfeeding : Create sustainable support systems “.This emphasizes the need to build long lasting structures that make breastfeeding practical and accessible for everyone.The phrase” prioritize breastfeeding ” serves as a call to action for governments,employers and health services to place breastfeeding high on the agenda.”Create sustainable support systems” underline the importance of developing environment that continue to back mothers and babies over time including maternity leave, proper lactation facilities in workplace etc.

If breastfeeding is promoted,mother’s are supported, breastfeeding delivers a hopeful future not only for future of children but for healthy society also.As breastfeeding reduces healthcare costs,boosts cognitive development,strengthens economies.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby:

1. Reduced infections like respiratory ,ear infections ,colds etc.
2. Boosts immunity against viruses and bacteria
3. Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS).
4. Reduces risk of childhood obesity.
5. Reduces risk of Diabetes.

Benefits of breastfeeding for Mother’s itself:

1. Helps in recovery, uterine contractions.
2. Reduce risk of postpartum depression
3. Helps in reducing pregnancy weight gain
4. Lowers risk of cancers like breast and ovarian cancer
5. Lowers risk of certain conditions like diabetes,high cholesterol,high blood pressure