August 1 signifies the kickoff for World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7) as well as August as National Breastfeeding Month. Each year the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) requests a Congressional proclamation to declare August as National Breastfeeding Month in the United States.
In 2021, the USBC piloted a toolkit that individuals could use to urge their governor to proclaim August as “Breastfeeding Month” in their state or territory. Kansas has joined the list! Governor Kelly signed the proclamation for Kansas on July 29. The theme this year is “This is Our Why.”
National Breastfeeding Month 2023 Weekly Observances include:
• Week 1 (Aug. 1-7): World Breastfeeding Week
Theme: Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents
• Week 2 (Aug. 8-14): Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
Theme: From the Stars to a Sustainable Future
• Week 3 (Aug. 15-21): Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week
Theme: Telling Our Stories, Elevating Our Voices!
• Week 4 (Aug. 25-31): Black Breastfeeding Week
Theme: We Outside!: Celebrating Connection & Our Communities
• New Week 5 (Sept. 5-11): Semana de La Lactancia Latina
Theme: to be announced.
Most of us have heard about how breastfeeding positively affects the health of infants and toddlers. Breastfeeding also positively impacts families financially as well as the environment. However, many have not heard about the positive impacts on a mother’s health. Women who breastfeed their children lower their risk of breast cancer.
According to an epidemiological study published in the The Lancet, breastfeeding is dose specific. For every 12 months of breastfeeding, the risk of breast cancer goes down by 4.3%. This can be for one child or a combination of children. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes as reported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Finally, studies also show that breastfeeding can help lower the risk of osteoporosis and stroke. That is a lot of health benefits that make for healthier women and society. And those are only the physical health benefits. There are also social-emotional benefits as well that help with bonding and parenting
Just because a woman wants to breastfeed though doesn’t mean that she has the support to do so. While breastfeeding is natural, it isn’t always easy. The World Breastfeeding Week campaign this year focuses on “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents.” Workplace challenges remain the most common reason for women to never start breastfeeding or stop breastfeeding earlier then recommended.
Join us to celebrate mothers and work to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and human milk feeding for the 13th-annual National Breastfeeding Month. In Hays and Ellis County, La Leche League of the Western Plains, the Ellis County Breastfeeding Coalition, and Cottonwood Extension District will display the traveling photography exhibit “In My Mother’s Arms” during the Hays Arts Council Summer Art Walk from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 25, at 601 Main Street. The traveling photography exhibit’s goal is to normalize breastfeeding.
Websites include worldbreastfeedingweek.org and www.usbreastfeeding.org/national-breastfeeding-month.html.
Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. One may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.
