World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually from 1st August to 7th August. This global campaign, organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), is aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, while also highlighting the importance of support for breastfeeding mothers.
If you’re currently expecting, it’s never too early to start thinking about how you’re going to feed your baby. You do not have to make up your mind until your baby is born.
Benefits of breast feeding
Some of the benefits of breastfeeding are:
- your breast milk meets all of your baby’s nutritional needs
- breast milk protects your baby from infections and diseases
- breastfeeding provides health benefits for you
- breast milk is available for your baby whenever your baby needs it
- breastfeeding can build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
Formula milk does not provide the same protection from illness and does not give you any health benefits.
Health benefits of breastfeeding for you
Breastfeeding and making breast milk also has health benefits for you. The more you breastfeed, the greater the benefits.
Breastfeeding lowers your risk of:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- osteoporosis (weak bones)
- cardiovascular disease
- obesity
Breastfeeding Support
The NHS Start4Life website has lots of information and a Facebook Messenger online chat bot to give you advice any day or night.
The national breastfeeding helpline is available 24 hours a day 0300 100 0212.
You can find your local infant feeding support services on our service finder.
Visit our Pregnancy and Maternity hub for more information to support you through your pregnancy journey.
