Why World Breastfeeding Week?

This week is world breastfeeding week.  Why are we “celebrating” it here on TCL for the second straight year?  In our conservative evangelical circles, breastfeeding is the norm.  But across the United States, breastfeeding is still languishing far below where it should be.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (the mainstream organization) recommends 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.  No formula, no water, no solids.  Then to continue breastfeeding as primary nutrition for at least the rest of the first year.

Here are the most recent stats on breastfeeding in the United States.  In 2005, 72.9% of babies were breastfed at least once.   39.1% were still breastfed even a little at 6 months, but only 13.9% were exclusively breasted to 6 months.  At 9 months, 26.3% were still nursing.  Only 20.1% of babies made it to a year of breastfeeding.   

Why should we care?  Breastfeeding leads to healthier babies and healthy babies are good for society.  They stress out their parents less, don’t pass around germs and lower the burden of health care costs to taxpayers.
Honestly, I talk about breastfeeding because I want everyone to remember that breastfeeding is normal.  When we consider it taboo, a subject that makes people uncomfortable, that affects mothers.  How society perceives nursing makes a huge difference in how long people breastfeed.

So, World Breastfeeding Week is here, perhaps not every year, but for now.  I hope it equips you to support nursing mothers.