It’s World Breasfeeding Week Again

For the third year, we are going to be observing World Breastfeeding Week here at the blog. I checked the latest statistics and there’s still a lot of room to grow towards exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continuing breastfeeding as primary nutrition for the first year, which is the minimal recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Did you see the statistics for my sweet home state? Only 52% of babies are ever breastfed, and less than one in 20 makes it to six months of exclusive breastfeeding. Tomorrow, I’ll post some links to old WBW posts and solicit your ideas for topics for this year, so please start gathering your ideas!

8 responses to “It’s World Breasfeeding Week Again

  1. The Western States seem to be doing really well, which is not surprising. Thanks for the link, interesting stuff!

  2. That list is terribly interesting. Go western states (I am a westerner, born and raised)! Although there are several states that have met the Healthy People 2010 goal for the first two colums, it is disheartening to see that no state met the healthy people 2010 goal for exclusive breastfeeding. As a current nursing mother (Halleigh is 10 months), I am sad for those women who are not sharing that special bonding time with their children. Nursing is some of my favorite time in the day!

  3. My home state of Washington was tops on the list! Awesome to know!

  4. Alaska’s stats look pretty impressive–do you think it is because of the Inuits having a cultural support for breastfeeding or because of the earthy-crunchy types that tend to populate that state?

  5. Woohoo, go Washington! :)

    I’m still breastfeeding Kyrie at 22 months, but I think I see an end in sight.

  6. Topic to suggest: Breastfeeding and fathers, or on pumping. So many people assume, falsely, that if the mother is working outside the home, breastfeeding is out. Breastpumps let fathers get in on the nursing bond and let mothers work or go to school or volunteer outside the home.

  7. Ooooooh, I LOVE my pump. May I just say! (Thanks, Dolly, for getting me hooked.) It does free up your schedule while still getting breastmilk to your wee one. We’ve left millions of bottles (okay maybe not that many) with grandparents or babysitters and it’s just been wonderful – not a drop of formula yet and she’s past 4 months. Not that I’m against occasional formula. Just with the pump you don’t have to use it. And breastmilk is free.

  8. I beastfed all my 6 children and the baby who died.
    Especially feeding the twins was much commented on. Not my moms, but by doctors.
    At times I had to educate them, and not the other way around.
    Some rally tried to force me in starting solids and if I had been a first time mome, I would have given in..I think.

    I have been a Breasfeeding buddy for many moms. Going with them to doctors to educate them.

    Our legislation is in favor of breastfeeding, as moms need to get time and a clean place to pump or feed the baby that can be brought in.

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