World Breastfeeding Week 2024: Support for All Breastfeeding Mums

What is World Breastfeeding Week?

World Breastfeeding Week, established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in 1992, is now a global event supported by WHO, UNICEF, and many health organizations. The goal is to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support to ensure all mothers can breastfeed successfully.

This year’s theme, "Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all," emphasizes the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers through various challenges, ensuring they receive the help they need from families, communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers.

Why Breastfeeding is Essential for Mum, Baby, and Society

A nutritional powerhouse
Breast milk is a complete source of nutrition for infants, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antibodies. It helps protect against infections, reduces the risk of chronic conditions like asthma and obesity, and supports overall healthy development.

Learn more: 5 Amazing Ways Breast Milk Changes to Adapt Your Baby's Needs

Baby bonding and wellbeing booster
Breastfeeding fosters a deep bond between mother and baby, promoting emotional security and psychological well-being. It releases oxytocin, which helps mothers feel more connected and relaxed, reducing the risk of postpartum depression.

Economic and environmental benefits
Breastfeeding reduces healthcare costs by lowering the incidence of illnesses in infants and mothers. It also supports environmental sustainability by reducing the need for formula production and waste.

However, globally only 44% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, far below the WHO's target of 50% by 2025. Various challenges, such as lack of support, misinformation, and socio-economic barriers, contribute to these low rates.

Breastfeeding Around the World

Finland
Finland boasts a comprehensive healthcare system with significant support for breastfeeding mothers. Maternity leave includes up to 105 weekdays of paid leave, and every new parent receives a maternity box filled with baby essentials.

A huge contributing factor that a lot of mothers take into consideration when choosing how to feed their baby is the amount of maternity leave they are entitled to. In Finland, the new family leave policy entitles parents to 320 days parental leave which a percentage can be shared with the other partner.

Renowned as “the best place to have a baby”, however, Finnish mothers still face challenges like lack of legal rights to breastfeed during working hours unlike most European countries, and severely understaffed hospitals.

United Kingdom
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) provides breastfeeding support through healthcare professionals and local support groups. One key initiative is the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, which has led to over 90% of maternity units and health visiting services in the UK being engaged, significantly improving breastfeeding initiation rates by over 20%.

Despite these efforts, breastfeeding continuation rates remain low, with only 34% of women in the UK still breastfeeding at six months and just 1% exclusively doing so. Socio-economic disparities and regional differences in access to support services contribute to these low rates, highlighting the need for more consistent and widespread support

United States
The US has laws supporting public breastfeeding, but significant barriers remain, such as limited maternity leave and workplace support. The PUMP Act 2022 expanded rights for pumping breaks, yet many mothers still face challenges balancing work and breastfeeding.

45% of women in the United States believe that breastfeeding threatens a mother’s freedom and independence which affects her lifestyle. And a further 50% of mothers said they stopped breastfeeding because of insufficient milk supply.

Those are some big numbers, and it confirms the huge decline of mother’s choosing to breastfeed their babies in the United States. A percentage of these mother’s said that with more support and education, they would have been able to breastfeed for longer.

Learn more: A Finnish Approach to Bridging the Gap in Breastfeeding Support for Mothers in the United States

The Blueprint for Better Breastfeeding Support

Normalize public breastfeeding
Creating an environment where breastfeeding is accepted and supported in public spaces is essential. This includes educating the public and providing safe, comfortable spaces for mothers to breastfeed.

Protect working mothers
Policies that provide adequate maternity leave and protections for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace are vital. These entitlements help mothers balance work and family life without compromising their breastfeeding goals.

Learn more: Balancing Breastfeeding and Pumping: Practical Tips for Busy Mothers

Training for healthcare professionals
Healthcare providers need proper training to offer respectful and effective breastfeeding support. This includes understanding the challenges mothers face and providing practical solutions.

End exploitative baby formula promotions
Stricter regulations are needed to prevent misleading advertising by formula companies. Promoting the benefits of breastfeeding over formula feeding helps mothers make informed choices.

Lola&Lykke is here to make a difference

At Lola&Lykke, we are dedicated to supporting breastfeeding mothers through innovative products, expert advice, and community support. Our mission is to make maternal care accessible and inclusive, ensuring no mother feels alone on her breastfeeding journey.

Innovative Products for Modern Mums
Our Smart Electric Breast Pump and other breastfeeding essentials are designed to make breastfeeding easier and more comfortable. These tools provide the flexibility and support mothers need to manage breastfeeding alongside their busy lives.

Expert Advice and Community Support
We offer a free Ask an Expert service, connecting mothers with lactation consultants and healthcare professionals. Our community of mothers shares experiences and advice, fostering a supportive network.

Co-founders Laura and Kati’s idea for starting Lola&Lykke, was based on their own personal experiences with major complications during childbirth and postpartum. It was also led from their own frustrations, having given birth in Finland where maternity care should be one of the best in the world, there is still a long road ahead to improve the support that is in place. We believe that mum comes first, and when she is well looked after, she is more able to look after her baby. “Our holistic support model helps mums with innovative health products, community-based support, 24/7 expert advice and a range of digital health tools. Because no mother should be left alone with her feelings and symptoms. Or be afraid to ask for help because of shame or taboos.”

Get Involved

Join us in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week by sharing your stories on Instagram and supporting breastfeeding mothers in your community. Participate in local events, spread awareness on social media, and encourage open conversations about breastfeeding.

Together, we can close the gap in breastfeeding support and ensure every mother has the resources and encouragement she needs. Let's work towards a world where all mothers feel empowered to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.