World Breastfeeding Week: Aug. 1 – 7
Monday was the kickoff to World Breastfeeding Week. The website states this year’s theme, Sustainable Development, is ” on raising awareness of the links between breastfeeding and the Sustainable Development Goals. By recognizing that breastfeeding is a key to sustainable development, we will value our wellbeing from the start of life, respect each other and care for the world we share.”
Rallies, latch-ons, support groups, businesses, brands–the awareness week is supported by many and continues through the weekend. Find out how you can spread breastfeeding awareness by visiting the website, following a social media account, or looking up events in your area. Beside You shared the following video last week on their Facebook page which has gained a lot of positive feedback.
Research: Breastmilk in first 28 days of life increases brain development
A study released in July by the journal of Pediatrics shows that babies who receive more breastmilk in the first 28 days of life had more gray matter at various locations within the brain at the age of 7, compared to those who received less. (Gray matter is where cognition and processing within the brain take place.) This study is one of many revealing the benefits of breastmilk. It adds to mounting evidence directly related to brain development related to breastfeeding. [Read more here.]
Research: Breastmilk in first hour of life is baby’s “first vaccine”
The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days by 40 percent. A delay of over 24 hours increases the risk to 80 percent.
“If all babies are fed nothing but breastmilk from the moment they are born until they are six months old, over 800,000 lives would be saved every year,” said France Bégin, UNICEF Senior Nutrition Adviser. [Read more here.]
U.N. declares ‘brelfies’ (or breastfeeding selfies) to be OK
If you have ever posted a ‘brelfie’ to a social media account (a breastfeeding selfie, that is), rest assured that at least the U.N. supports you. A spokesman for the U.N. said that in support of World Breastfeeding Week they want to get people talking about breastfeeding in order to improve infant nutrition around the world.
“It’s absolutely to be encouraged,” World Health Organization spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva when asked about the fad. [Read more here.]
Celebrity spotting: Alyssa Milano shows WBW support with brelfie
It should come as no surprise that major breastfeeding advocate Alyssa Milano is taking part in World Breastfeeding Week. The actress is known for her efforts to normalize breastfeeding so she took to social media again and posted several “throwback” photos of herself breastfeeding daughter, Elizabella. [Read more here.]
A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on
In honor of #wbw2016. #normalizebreastfeeding.
A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on
