NHSA's mission is to be our nation's voice in providing leadership and advocacy for health equity services and interventions that improve birth outcomes and family wellbeing.

World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7 and this year’s theme is Breastfeeding support: close to mothers. It is time to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding to not only families but also the whole community.

For those who are not familiar with it, breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts (i.e., via lactation) rather than using infant formula from a baby bottle or other container. Breastfeeding is so much than a meal. Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for a baby’s growth and development.

There are many reasons why breast-feeding is best for you and your baby. According to one article from BabyCentre, breastfeeding benefits babies and moms.

For Baby:

• Breast milk contains all the nutrients your baby needs for the first six months.
• It’s easy to digest.
• It protects from infections.
• Your baby is never allergic to your breast milk.
• It gives comfort and security to your baby.
• It helps the brain to grow.

For Mom:

• It lets you feel close to your baby.
• It helps you lose weight.
• It helps your uterus return to normal with less bleeding.
• You don’t have to wash bottles.
• You don’t have to buy formula.
• Fewer doctor visits.
• It lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

It is our duty and responsibility to provide babies with a good start in life by ensuring breastfeeding.

For more information about World Breastfeeding Week 2013, please visit worldbreastfeedingweek.org.

In addition, you can learn more information and programs about breastfeeding in the United States at breastfeedingusa.org.

 Alice Wang is the NHSA Summer Intern with us from Hong Kong, China.