How to Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week Part 1 – For Current Breastfeeders

World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7 every year. It’s run by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and supported by big organizations like WHO and UNICEF. WBW was first celebrated in 1992.

Note: Canadians celebrate WBW the first week of October officially but I think breastfeeding is important enough to celebrate it twice personally.

You may not think about celebrating something like World Breastfeeding Week but you should celebrate your breastfeeding relationship.

Part 2 is for those who breastfed in the past.

Part 3 is for those who exclusively pump.

Take Photos Of Your Breastfeeding Relationship

Some women have lots of photos of them breastfeeding but just as many, have never taken a photo because they prefer to keep everything more covered up. While either way is perfectly fine, if you don’t have any photos of yourself breastfeeding, take some now. You’ll want them later on when the nursing relationship is over, trust me. If you are worried about others seeing them, print them and keep them locked up in a safe or special treasure chest and delete the digital copies. If you are comfortable with someone else taking the photos, you can get more angles and shots. Otherwise a one-handed photo looking down at your baby nursing is good, or you could even use a mirror to help you.

Write About Your Breastfeeding Experience

You could focus on what it was like before you started, when you started or now. Write about your struggles, your triumphs, what you learned, maybe your own tips for success. You can write just for yourself and keep it private, or you can look into publishing it on a blog or website or submitting to a book compilation. Search for breastfeeding stories or nursing stories and look for a do you want to contribute page.

Join a Latch-on Event

The Big Latch-On is when lots of breastfeeding women gather together at the same place on the same date and time and latch their children on. The next latch on is August 1-2 in many places around the world. If there isn’t a latch-on event near you, consider starting one. If that’s not possible, just latch on at home at the same day and time. It might not count for their tally but at least you know you are participating.

Help a Friend

Do you have a friend who is pregnant and wants to breastfeed? Perhaps a friend who is breastfeeding but having some troubles? See if there is something you can do to help. Depending on your friendship, you might just see if they want some advice (ask first) or perhaps you can demonstrate techniques with your own child. Decades ago, when breastfeeding was practiced openly, children, teenagers and new moms saw women nursing regularly. I’m sure that made it all that much easier to get the hang of than now, when some new moms have never even seen a baby breastfeed before they give birth.

Buy Breastfeeding Products

There are all sorts of fun products that are supportive of breast feeders. I don’t mean breastfeeding how-tos or breast pads although those products have their place. I mean products that celebrate how important and awesome breastfeeding is and your support of it.

I Recommend: (some links may be affiliate links)

Fresh Milk by Fiona Giles

This is no how-to book. It’s a bunch of stories, celebrating the different breastfeeding relationships that are possible.

I loved this book when I read it years ago and in fact found that my breasts swelled with milk when I read it, that’s how well written it is.

I reviewed Fresh Milk at my book blog, SMS Nonfiction Book Reviews if you want to see my thoughts.

Breastfeeding Clothing and Other Fun Items from Cafepress

There are tons of fun products with many fun sayings just like this shirt and others like:

Bib with: I had boobs for breakfast, what did you have?

Body suit with: iNurse

Bib with: Silly daddy, boobs are for babies!

Shirt with: Boobie Monster

On to Part 2 – On to Part 3