Welcome to the World Breastfeeding Week Blog Carnival! From August 1-7, we'll be featuring breastfeeding experts sharing their expertise about breastfeeding and breastfeeding issues. Each day will bring something new! To begin, here is a history of World Breastfeeding Week and some valuable links and free handouts.
World
Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated each year August 1-7. WBW 2012 is the 20th anniversary
of the very first WBW which had at its theme: Baby –Friendly Hospital Initiative. The theme for this year, appropriately, is
Understanding the Past, Planning the Future.
What
is the Innocenti Declaration? This
document was produced and adopted by participants at the WHO/UNICEF policymakers'
meeting on "Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global Initiative, co-sponsored
by the United States Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) and the
Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), held at the Spedale degli
Innocenti, Florence, Italy, on 30 July - 1 August 1990. The Declaration
reflects the content of the original background document for the meeting and
the views expressed in group and plenary sessions.
Global strategy is a dynamic part of the WBW celebration. According to the WBW website: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) jointly developed and launched the
Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (GS) in 2002 reaffirming the
four Innocenti targets set in 1995, and setting additional targets. The GS has
identified a clear need for optimal infant feeding practices in reducing
malnutrition as well as poverty. It is based on a human rights approach and
calls for the development of comprehensive national policies on infant and
young child feeding. It provides guidance on how to protect, promote and
support exclusive breastfeeding for first six months, and continued
breastfeeding for two years or beyond together with adequate, appropriate and
indigenous complementary feeding starting from the age of six months.”
Many
maternity care groups and organizations are participating in WBW. The publisher of the Journal of Midwifery and
Women’s Health (the official journal of the American College of Nurse Midwives)
offers free access to their special full issue on breastfeeding issues now
through August 31. You can access Volume
52, issue 6 by clicking here.
La
Leche League USA is a sponsor of the BIG LATCH ON. The BIG LATCH ON is two full days this year,
Friday August 3 and Saturday August 4.
Both days, communities across the national will hold events at 10:30 am
local time. A count of how many moms and
nursing babies will take place, then tallied for the entire nation. The Big Latch On is originally from New
Zealand. It was started by Women's Health Action in 2005 as part of
World Breastfeeding Week. Each year, they have seen a growth in the numbers of
breastfeeding women attending and an increase in the support for breastfeeding
in public. The Big Latch On was introduced to Portland, Oregon, in 2010 by
Joanne Edwards as a celebration for World Breastfeeding Week. In 2011, Joanne
worked with Annie Brown and members of La Leche League USA to grow the Big
Latch On across the USA.
La
Leche League International is offering select downloads from their foundational
book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. For over 50 years, La Leche League (LLL) has
been a driving force in support of breastfeeding world wide. For a view of their rich history, click here .
Lamaze
International and Babies R Us are joining forces to promote breastfeeding also. Lamaze educators will be at select Babies R
Us stores teaching “Nursing Basics for New Moms” on Saturday August 4. To
find a store near you for this special event, go to the Babies R Us Events
page. Lamaze
international is also offering a free Lamaze Webinar: “Moms, Babies, Milk and
the Law: Legal and Ethical Issues When Teaching Breastfeeding”. This free webinar will be August 15, 2012
from 1 pm – 2 pm EST and feature Elizabeth C. Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA. To reserve your spot at the webinar, click
here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/926390753
If
you are celebrating WBW in your community and are in need of press materials
such as logos, posters or flyers, the World Breastfeeding Week website has
great downloads for you to use!
Helpful
web resources:
LaLeche League International ~ you will find access to LLL in other countries. Select countries are listed below:
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