National Breastfeeding Month 2019

On August 6, 2011, the USBC officially declared that August is National Breastfeeding Month. Read the Proclamation.

In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month (NBM), each year the USBC hosts a social media advocacy and/or outreach campaign inviting breastfeeding coalitions, member/partner organizations, and individual supporters to join online actions and conversations to build support for the policy and practice changes needed to build a "landscape of breastfeeding support." Read on for resources, tools, and weekly themes for 2019.

NBM 2019: Support Changes Everything

The USBC is thrilled to announce that the theme of National Breastfeeding Month 2019 is "Support Changes Everything."

How to Connect & Participate

• Use our Social Media Toolkit with graphics and sample posts for each week: www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm-social-media.
• Sign up for news and action alerts at www.usbreastfeeding.org/signup.
• Follow us on Twitter (@usbreastfeeding). "Like" us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usbreastfeeding). Follow the hashtags #NBM19 and #SupportChangesEverything on social media and share or retweet campaign posts.
• Get materials: print posters for your local clinic or buy prizes for your NBM event from our CafePress store.
• Help spread the word! Let friends, family, and colleagues know about NBM by sending them this link: www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm19.
• Submit additional news, tools, and resources at www.usbreastfeeding.org/submit.

Week 1: Empowered Parents & Partners             

Learning Opportunities:

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Webinar Recording: "Creating Non-Traditional Partners to Support Breastfeeding Families"
  • NBCC Highlight: "Inclusive Breastfeeding Support of Partners, Spouses and Families"
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
• Webpage: "Breastfeeding Strategies and Resources"
• Webpage: "Traveling Recommendations for Nursing Families"
• Webpage: "Frequently Asked Questions"
• Webpage: "What to Expect While Breastfeeding"
• Webpage: "Recommendations and Benefits"
• Webpage: "Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk"

Action Opportunities:

• 1,000 Days
• 1,000 Days Inspiration Guide with breastfeeding content to use on social media throughout the month.
• California Department of Public Health:
• "World Breastfeeding Week 2019 Social Media Guide"

• La Leche League USA:

• Events: Live, Love, Latch! (events held at locations across the United States)

• MomsRising:
• Virtual Event: #WellnessWed Twitter Chat August 7, from 2-3 p.m. ET

• Theme: "Your birth/Your breastfeeding journey/Your story"
• National WIC Association:
  • Online Action Tool: "Support the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program"
• MomsRising:
  • Virtual Event: #WellnessWed Twitter Chat August 7, from 2-3 p.m. ET
• Theme: "Your birth/Your breastfeeding journey/Your story"

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:

• Online Action Tool: "Tell Your Senators to Cosponsor the National Breastfeeding Month Resolution"

• World Breastfeeding Week:

  • #WBW19 Action Folder & Insert (available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish)

Tools & Resources:

• National WIC Association:
  • Fact Sheet: "Breastfeeding Peer Counselors: A Successful Program That Should Be Expanded"
• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Webpage: "National Arab American Heritage Month" featuring a compilation of resources in Arabic
  • Webpage: "Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" featuring a compilation of resources in languages including Hmong, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean
  • Webpage: "Native American Heritage Month" featuring a compilation of resources for Native American families and those who support them
  • Webpage: "LGBTQIA+ Resources and Pride Month" featuring a compilation of resources on breastfeeding/chestfeeding for LGBTQIA+ families and those who support them
• U.S. Department of Agriculture:
• Webpage: "WIC Breastfeeding Support – Learn Together. Grow Together"
• World Health Organization:
  • Breastfeeding Infographics:
    • "Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere: At a shopping centre"
    • "Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere: At the restaurant"
    • "Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere: On the bus"
    • "Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere: At the town hall"
    • "Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere: At a picnic"
• First Droplets:
• Video: "Breastfeeding in the first hour, it’s in your hands"

Week 2: Investing in our future            

Learning Opportunities

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Webinar Recording: "Advocating for Reduced Breastfeeding Disparities in LA"
  • Webinar Recording: "The First 1000 Days: Nourishing Healthier Futures"
  • Webinar Recording: "Community-Based Doula Programs: Innovative Program Model that Supports Families"
• NBCC Highlight: "The Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities Initiative"
• NBCC Highlight: "Better Together: Leveraging Our Collective Strength and Diversity to Support Equitable Infant Feeding"
• NBCC Highlight: "RISE: Lactation Model, A Lactation Consultant Equity Initiative"
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
• Webpage: "Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2009–2016, CDC National Immunization Survey"
• Webpage: "Maternal, Infant & Toddler Nutrition, Physical Activity & Healthy Growth"
• MMWR: "Receipt of Breast Milk by Gestational Age — United States, 2017"

Action Opportunities:

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
• Online Action Tool: "Tell Congress to Increase CDC Funding for Breastfeeding"
•  MomsRising:
  • Virtual Event: #WellnessWed Twitter Chat August 14, from 2-3 p.m. ET
    • Theme: Paid Family Leave
• National WIC Association:
• Online Action Tool: "Ask Your Senators to Cosponsor the WIC Act!" 
• American Public Health Association:
• Virtual Event: #BFHI Twitter Chat August 16, from 3-4 p.m. ET
• Theme: Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Tools & Resources

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Tool: Breastfeeding Savings Calculator
  • Fact Sheet: "Help Families Get Off To A Strong Start: Support CDC Funding for Breastfeeding Support Programs"
• Fact Sheet: "Structural Inequities Burden Mothers/Parents, Infants and Families of Color: Support Policies that Reduce Disparities in Health Outcomes"
• World Health Organization:
  • Breastfeeding Infographic: Breastfeeding: Global targets 2025
  • Fact Sheet: "Infant and young child feeding"
• FHI 360:
• Tool: "The Cost of Not Breastfeeding"

Week 3: Workplace & Work life (or School)            

Learning Opportunities:

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Webinar Recording: "Breastfeeding Support for Active Military Personnel and Families"
• Webinar Recording: "Exposed: Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Workers"
• NBCC Highlight: "Military Families and Breastfeeding"
• NBCC Highlight: "Paid parental leave: An opportunity to advance equity in breastfeeding, health outcomes, and economic security"

Action Opportunities:

• U.S. Department of Labor:
• Online Dialogue: "Supporting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace"
• Ideas and comments gathered from this online dialogue will be used to guide DOL’s work to expand and enhance compliance assistance resources and materials on the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision
• Virtual Event: #EPWChat August 20, from 1-2 p.m. ET
• Theme: Supporting nursing mothers in the workplace
• USBC-Affiliated Paid Leave Constellation:
  • Sign On Letter: Urging Members of Congress to establish at least 12 weeks of job-protected, paid family & medical leave
    • Download the letter
    • Sign on to the letter
  • Sign On Letter Urging Members of Congress to address gaps in the Military Parental Leave Program
    • Download the letter
    • Sign on to the letter
• MomsRising:
  • Virtual Event: #WellnessWed Twitter Chat August 21, from 2-3 p.m. ET
    • Theme: Workplace Supports
• UNICEF:
  • Campaign: "It’s About Time"

Tools & Resources:

• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Online Guide: "What You Need to Know About the 'Break Time for Nursing Mothers' Law"
  • Fact Sheet: "Congress Should Pass the PUMP (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) for Nursing Mothers Act"
• Native Breastfeeding Week
• Facebook Page
• Office on Women's Health:
  • Online Resource: "Supporting Nursing Moms at Work"
• Center for WorkLife Law:
• "Pumping at Work: How Medical Professionals Can Support Breastfeeding Patients"
• "State Workplace Lactation Laws"
• The Pregnant Scholar:
• Online Resource: "Know Your Rights: Breastfeeding"
• Online Resource: "Model Student Breastfeeding Policy"
•  MomsRising
  • Fact sheet: "The Case for Paid Family & Medical Leave"
• Mom2Mom Global:
  • Fact Sheet: "DODI 1327.06 Military Parental Leave Program 2018"
• A Better Balance:
  • Fact Sheet: "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)"
  • Fact Sheet: "Why the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is Good for Business"
  • Webpage: "State Laws for Nursing Mothers at Work: How To Talk to Your Boss About Your Pump"
• National Perinatal Association
• Graphics: Breastfeeding Diversity Library
• World Health Organization:
  • Breastfeeding Infographics:
    • "Let's Make it Work: What law makers can do"
    • "Let's Make it Work: What employers can do"
    • "Let's Make it Work: What trade unions can do"
    • "Let's Make it Work: What co-workers can do"
      

Week 4: Black Breastfeeding Week: The World is Yours: Imagine. Innovate. Liberate.          

Learning Opportunities:

• Black Breastfeeding Week:
  • Blog: "Top Five Reasons We Need A Black Breastfeeding Week"
• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • NBCC Highlight: "Voices of Urban Mothers: Peer Counselors and Telephone & Text Support for Breastfeeding in the Early Months"
  • NBCC Highlight: "Native American and African-American communities build 'Communities Supporting Breastfeeding' in Kansas"
• USBC Webpage: "Black History Month Tools & Resources"
• USBC Community Workspace: Racial Equity Learning Community

Action Opportunities:

• Black Breastfeeding Week:
  • Events: "Baby Lift Up" (events held at locations across the United States)
• MomsRising in coordination with Black Breastfeeding Week founders:
  • Virtual Event: #WellnessWed Twitter Chat August 28, from 2-3 p.m. ET
  • Theme: Black Breastfeeding Week - "The World is Yours: Imagine. Innovate. Liberate"
• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
• Online Action Tool: "Ask Congress to Support the MOMMA's Act!"

Tools & Resources:

• U. S. Breastfeeding Committee:
  • Fact Sheet: "Structural Inequities Burden Mothers/Parents, Infants and Families of Color: Support Policies that Reduce Disparities in Health Outcomes"
  • Organizations Listed in USBC’s Directory:
    • Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association
    • Black Women's Health Imperative
    • Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support (BSTARS) 
    • National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC)
    • National Black Nurses Association
    • Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)