It's World Breastfeeding Week, 2013!

For the 21st year, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding has designated this first week of August as World Breastfeeding Week. This year's theme is Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers.  Though the details of the theme have a focus on peer counseling, the very topic also includes all of us being a part of a new family's initiation into parenting, and especially breastfeeding.  

For breastfeed support to be successful, those of us who love and  live to support and promote breastfeeding know that there needs to be some sort of proximity to that new family.  The message of the importance of breastfeeding should be given to ALL people which then provides the framework of community societal backing.  Then those who provide care for the mom-to-be, and certainly her baby's doctor as well,  should also bring consistent advice and caring empathy to the new family; Board Certified Lactation Consultants and La Leche League leaders are well equipped to be a part of this level of support. Finally, those who are closest to the new mom- the  baby's father, the new grandparents and other friends should carry that same message to her.  A message of encouragement, of compassion, of respect, can go far to help a new mom make it through those early days of parenting and breastfeeding.  What an honor it is to be Close to Mothers, providing Breastfeeding Support!

Karen
Your Milk Maven,  Milk Mensch, and BreastFriend!

 (Check this out- some nice poster-like support pictures!    http://ow.ly/nr6E1  )