August is National Breastfeeding month in the US and World Breastfeeding week August 1-7

This year the theme of the World Breastfeeding Week is Breasfeeding Support: Close to Mothers, which highlights breastfedding peer counselling. As a breastfedding mom (I nurse my baby girl 'til 9 months) I felt that lack of support from the health care system. Who should you talk to about breasfeeding medical problems? the pediatrician? the OB/GYN doctor? a nurse? I believe there is a lack of doctors specialized in breastfeeding. 

So, this year WBW has five goals:

1. To draw attention to the importance of Peer Support in helping mothers to establish and sustain breastfeeding.

2. To inform people of the highly effective benefits of Peer Counselling, and unite efforts to expand peer counselling programmes.

3. To encourage breastfeeding supporters, regardless of thei r educat ional background, to step forward and be trained to support mothers and babies. 

4. To identify local community support contacts for breastfeeding mothers, that women can go to for help and support after giving birth.

5. To call on governments and maternity facilities globally to actively implement the Ten Steps, in particular Step 10, to improve duration and rates of exclusive breastfeeding.

To learn more visit the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action at http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

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