Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

What is World Breastfeeding Week? World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year on August 1 through the 7th in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocent Declaration made by the WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

This year's theme is "Just 10 Steps! Breastfeeding the Baby-Friendly Way."

Step 1: Hospitals to have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.

Step 2: Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement the breastfeeding policy.

Step 3: Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

Step 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after birth.

Step 5: Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their babies.

Step 6: Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated. (Mommy's Little Monkey has Mommy and Baby covered with our Note to Nurse Set)

Step 7: Practice rooming-in, allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

Step 8: Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

Step 9: Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfeeding infants.

Step 10: Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Pass on this information and support women who plan to breastfeed or that breastfeed in your life.

~Much Monkey Love,

Evie