World Breastfeeding Week is a global healthcare event celebrated annually in the first week of
August (01st to 07th). During the entire week, various international and local organisations join
hands in promoting the importance of breastfeeding benefits to new-borns and mothers. World
Breastfeeding Week also promotes, defends, and supports women's rights to breastfeed their babies
anytime and anywhere. #World Breast feeding Week
Breast milk is the primary source for all their nutritional needs in the initial few months of an infant's
life, as it comprises 87% water, 7% carbohydrate, 4% lipid and 1% protein, vitamins, and other
minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc). Appropriate breastfeeding
equipped with both maternal and child benefits that include prevention of child from severe
diseases (short- and long-term diseases) such as:
Respiratory problems (such as respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, etc.)
Sudden infant death syndrome (unexplained, sudden, and unexpected death of a healthy baby, also
called cot death)
Diarrhoea, leading to quick dehydration
Necrotising enterocolitis (a serious gastrointestinal issue affecting premature babies)
Otitis media (infection of the middle ear)
Obesity (excess fat)
Type 1 Diabetes (little or no insulin production, resulting in excess blood sugar)
In women, breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Importance of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)
The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
(UNICEF) recommend optimal breastfeeding that includes exclusively breastfeeding (only breastmilk
without any additional food or water, exception to oral rehydration solution, drops and syrups) a
child during the first six months of life, and then continuing to breastfeed until the age of two years,
with the addition of suitable and sufficient supplementary foods.
In developing nations, exclusive breastfeeding of infants younger than two years old has the highest
potential impact, among other preventive interventions, on child survival, having the ability to save
approximately 13% of all deaths in children under the age of five years. In addition, it is also critical
to achieving many of the newly announced Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
As per the World Health Organization's 2020 report on newborn and young child feeding, optimal
breastfeeding (0–23 months) might save the lives of more than 8,20,000 children under five every
year.
The Indian stake
As per a 2015 global report, 59 lakh child deaths are reported, where India marks the highest share,
with 20% of it. The UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) India Statistics
2015 reports malnutrition is responsible for over half of the nation's under-five mortality and infant
mortality rates of 48 and 38 per 1,000 live births, respectively. In addition, the report stated that
Indian women had subpar recommended breastfeeding practices as only 65% of infants were
reported for exclusive breastfeeding at six months of age and 45% of infants with early initiation of
breastfeeding (colostrum milk) within one hour.
Challenges to optimal breastfeeding practice
Various determinants affect a successful optimal breastfeeding practice, including family and
community, health system and services, sociocultural factors, mother-infant interaction, workplace
and employment, and others. Multiple studies have demonstrated that breastfeeding rates can
rapidly increase if the above-mentioned determinants are addressed with the help of enabling
measures.
Among them, workplace and employment and returning to the workplace is one of the most
common and important factors for an unsuccessful optimal breastfeeding practice, as many women
worldwide spend a significant amount of time away from their children at work within the first year
after giving birth.
Therefore, World Breastfeeding Week strives to enlighten the stakeholders/policymakers in
changing the workplace environment by adapting breastfeeding policy, thereby promoting optimal
breastfeeding practice and its impact on the development of their infants.
World Breastfeeding Week 2025 Theme | WBW - World Breastfeeding Week 2025 Poster | world
Breastfeeding Week Theme | Illustration of a mother, hands, and eco-friendly symbols
World Breastfeeding Week 2025 Theme
This year, 2025, the World Breastfeeding Week theme is "Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create
Sustainable Support Systems”. This theme emphasises the urgent need to create long-lasting
support systems for mothers to facilitate and increase breastfeeding. It's important because
breastfeeding improves the health of mothers and babies and makes the planet a healthier place. In
order to create these long-term support systems for everyone, we need to collaborate.
