National Breastfeeding Month

By: Miriam Edelman 

Occurring every August, National Breastfeeding Month raises awareness of breastfeeding and increases support for families. In 2011, the United States Breastfeeding Committee created this annual event.

According to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should be only breastfed during their first six months. Then, they should breastfeed while eating foods for at least one year (Dietary Guidelines), two years (the AAP), or longer if wanted.

Most babies begin consuming breast milk, but as months pass, breastfeeding declines. For many families, breastfeeding does not occur for as long as they intended.

Breastfeeding varies by race and ethnicity.  Breastfeeding initiation rates tend to be higher among infants of Asian and Caucasian mothers and lower among infants of African-American and American Indian or Alaska Native mothers.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the child and the mother. Breastfeeding develops an emotional and psychological bond between the infant and mother.

Breastfeeding can decrease the chance of certain illnesses for both infants and mothers. Infants have a lower likelihood of asthma, severe lower respiratory disease, obesity, type 1 diabetes, acute otitis media (ear infections), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), gastrointestinal infections (which can result in diarrhea and vomiting), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (death of intestinal tissue) for preterm infants. Meanwhile, mothers have a reduced risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Breastfeeding also decreases the acquisition of postpartum depression and anxiety.

Babies benefit from breastfeeding in other ways. Breast milk, the best nutrient for the majority of infants, helps create a strong immune system. Through breast milk, babies receive antibodies from their mothers. The antibodies can help avoid severe infections and decrease the seriousness of illnesses. Breast milk’s white blood cells detect and fight damaging microorganisms. The physical proximity to the mother during breastfeeding “enhances feelings of security and closeness.” The touching of the child and mother creates security and positive connections with feeding and calms the baby.

Breastfeeding helps mothers in additional ways. It engenders attention and relaxation, which can decrease sadness. Breastfeeding often increases self-esteem and confidence and provides purpose, accomplishment, and empowerment.

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

 Global experts created the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Ten Steps), which include evidence-based activities that increase breastfeeding. Hospitals and birthing facilities are required to follow the Ten Steps to have a Baby-Friendly label. Major maternal and health entities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support the Ten Steps. The Ten Steps include three “Critical Management Procedures” and seven “Key Clinical Practices.”

Employment and Breastfeeding

Employers can help their workers who breastfeed. Breastfeeding-friendly policies help workplaces retain workers, decrease the use of sick time, and lower health care and insurance costs. By retaining workers, they decrease turnover, saving time and money. Methods to assist employees who breastfeed include providing a clean and private space where mothers can pump their breastmilk. Employers should allow breaks for pumping of breastmilk, offer flexible working schedules, and support breast-feeding mothers.

Breastfeeding and Washington, D.C.

The Washington, D.C., Human Rights Act of 1977 (as amended) protects the rights of mothers who breastfeed. According to D.C.’s government’s website, under the law:

• “A woman has a right to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where she has the right to be with her child, without respect to whether the mother’s breast or any part of it is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding of her child. 

• An employer must provide reasonable daily unpaid break-time, as required by an employee so she may express human milk for her child to maintain milk supply and comfort. 

• The break-time for expression of milk, if possible, may run concurrently with any break-time, paid or unpaid, already provided to the employee. 

• An employer is not required to provide break-time if it would create an undue hardship on the operations of the employer. 

• An employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a sanitary room or other location in close proximity to the work area, other than a bathroom or toilet stall, where an employee can express her milk in privacy and security. 

• The employer must create a policy for breastfeeding mothers and must post and maintain a poster in a conspicuous place that sets forth these requirements. 

• The employee must file within one (1) year of the occurrence or discovery of the violation of the Act. An employee of the District of Columbia government must file within 180 days of the occurrence or discovery of the violation.”

D.C.’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program promotes and supports breastfeeding. WIC provides:

“Trained breastfeeding personnel ready to assist mothers in making informed decisions about their infant feeding choice

Breastfeeding peer counselors to provide support and counseling to WIC mothers

Breastfeeding aids, such as manual and electric pumps or referral to sources of these items

A special food package to participants who only breastfeed their babies. This food package includes fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as additional amounts of cheese, juice, peanut butter or dry beans and canned fish

Referrals to lactation consultants or other resources

Breastfeeding classes for anyone interested in breastfeeding. Learn more on what to expect and how to breastfeed”

Final Thoughts

Breastfeeding should be celebrated. This vital early-life activity helps both babies and their mothers.