The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week - a time for all the world to acknowledge the importance of giving babies human milk, and an opportunity for individuals, organizations and systems to examine their roles and responsibilities in promoting and supporting bodyfeeding and the parent/baby dyad. Breastfeeding provides food security and reduces inequalities. Additionally, August 8-14 is Indigenous Milk Medicine Week and August 25-31 is the 10th annual Black Breastfeeding Week.

The focus for 2022 World Breastfeeding (Bodyfeeding) Week is “strengthening the capacity of actors that have to protect, promote and support breastfeeding across different levels of society. These actors make up the warm chain of support for breastfeeding.”

Childbirth educators are important members of this warm chain. Today on Connecting the Dots, we share concrete steps that educators can do to meet all four objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2022.

Objective 1: Inform people about their role in strengthening the warm chain of support for breastfeeding

What can a childbirth educator do?

Childbirth educators can advocate within hospital systems to offer accessible, affordable inclusive classes on bodyfeeding to the people that are served through the organization. Support these organizations in confirming that the information provided is evidence based and accurate, and available in languages and formats that meet the needs of the local communities

Objective 2: Anchor breastfeeding as part of good nutrition, food security and reduction of inequalities​

What can a childbirth educator do?

Educators can spiral the topic of giving babies human milk throughout their curriculum, introducing the topic in the first class and building on this information wherever appropriate so that families understand how they can set themselves up for success at every point during their pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum time. Additionally, childbirth educators can use inclusive images, language and teaching tools so that all birthing people see themselves as someone who can provide human milk to their children.

Objective 3: Engage with individuals and organizations along the warm chain of support for breastfeeding​

What can a childbirth educator do?

Childbirth educators can reach out to organizations and professionals who support bodyfeeding families, for the purpose of connection and permission to include their contact information in a comprehensive resource list for bodyfeeding families.  Reach out to board certified lactation consultants, peer to peer counselors and support groups, donor (and donation) milk sources, pump rentals and sales, physicians who specialize in breastfeeding medicine and more.  Collate an accurate and thorough resource list and share it with class families and other professionals.

Objective 4: Galvanize action on strengthening capacity of actors and systems for transformational change

What can a childbirth educator do?

Experienced educators can mentor new educators in the “art” of teaching amazing lactation classes, focusing on educators who represent People of the Global Majority (BIPOC).  We can also donate to organizations that offer equity scholarships to train childbirth and lactation educators of color and serve under-resourced communities.  We can share effective teaching ideas with those educators to help them create remarkable classes on feeding babies with human milk.  Here are some that we shared on Connecting the Dots in the past.

• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Lactation Station
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Use This Free Breast/Chestfeeding Quiz in Your Virtual Classes
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Food for Thought When Making Milk
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: All about that Stitch: Products to Knit or Crochet for Birth Classes
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: What’s in Human Milk versus Formula
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Understanding Input and Output - Is Baby Getting Enough?
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Orange You Going to Use this Bodyfeeding Class Activity
• Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators: Nine Ideas for Using Knit Breasts in Bodyfeeding Classes

The focus of World Breastfeeding Week this year (#WBW2022) is on “education and support, so that we can all step up for breastfeeding! Governments, healthcare actors, community actors and society at large must advocate to normalise breastfeeding and create breastfeeding-friendly environments. The #WBW2022 campaign reminds us that we all have a role to play in the education and transformation of existing systems, underpinned by evidence-based national policies to create breastfeeding-friendly health facilities, supportive communities and workplaces. Let’s step up for breastfeeding!”

Your role as a childbirth educator is key and you are invited to rise to the challenge!

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