About | World Breastfeeding Week | National Breastfeeding Month | Indigenous Milk Medicine Week | Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week | Black Breastfeeding Week | #BreastfeedingIs Campaign | General

About

This Inspiration Guide is a living document, providing an open-source, unbranded library of content for a community of organizations using social media to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 – 7), National Breastfeeding Month (U.S. - August) and beyond.

To learn more about World Breastfeeding Week, visit WABA. To learn more about National Breastfeeding Month and the 2021 theme Every Step of the Way, visit USBC.

How to use:

The messaging included within this Inspiration Guide is meant to be used throughout the month of August, across social platforms along with the proposed graphics and/or other general breastfeeding imagery. Additionally, each graphic within this guide is downloadable. In order to save, select the graphic you would like then right click and Save As.

We've included both general breastfeeding/chestfeeding/infant feeding content as well as messaging geared towards each week’s theme.

Access the guides from 2020 and 2019.

If you have additional resources you would like to be included in the Inspiration Guide, reach out to Allyson Garner Spencer, Communications Manager at 1,000 Days – agarner@fhi360.org.

Source: Adobe Stock

World Breastfeeding Week

Theme: Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility

Organizers: World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)

Messages:

  • Breastfeeding improves families health, survival, and wellbeing.
  • Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play.
  • All mothers and families should have access to breastfeeding support.
  • Protecting breastfeeding is one of the best investments for saving lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations.
  • Breastfeeding is key to the survival, health and wellbeing of all.
  • Breastfeeding is a universal solution that gives everyone a fair start.

Graphics: Find graphics developed by WABA here.

Find a selection of social graphics sized for Twitter and Facebook/Instagram above.
Suggested Social Copy: Join us! New tools for the provision of #breastfeeding counselling. 2 sessions, tailored content for each region. #WBW2021 Aug 3 @14:00 UTC: Americas, Europe, west Africa Aug 4 @6:00 UTC: eastern Africa, Mediterranean, Asia, west Pacific Register: https://bit.ly/BBBFCP

Hashtags: #WBW2021 #WABA #ProtectBreastfeeding #SharedResponsibility #breastfeeding #SDGs #worldbreastfeedingweek2021 #ProtectBreastfeedingaSharedResponsibility #protectbreastfeedingtogether #buildingbackbetter #warmchain4breastfeeding #breastfeeding4publichealth

Additional Resources:

Source: © UNICEF/UN065182/Phelps
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee

National Breastfeeding Month

Theme: Every Step of the Way

Organizers: United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)

Messages:

National Breastfeeding Month General

  • August is National Breastfeeding Month, and this year’s theme is “Every Step of the Way.” Learn how you can join the celebration and take action to support breastfeeding families at https://bit.ly/USBCNBM21 #NBM21
  • The 2021 National Breastfeeding Month Every Step of the Way theme and artwork represents the spheres of influence in a breastfeeding family's world and the continuity of care that every family deserves along the human milk feeding journey. https://bit.ly/USBCNBM21 #NBM21
  • National Breastfeeding Month is just one of many events and celebrations each August working to eliminate the barriers to human milk feeding. Learn more about the weekly observances and their themes: https://bit.ly/USBCNBM21 #NBM21
  • Babies feed every few hours, so it is critical that lactating parents have support every step of the way. During National Breastfeeding Month, join us as we work to normalize human milk feeding wherever families live, learn, work, and play: https://bit.ly/USBCNBM21 #NBM21
  • When we speak together, our voices are amplified! Learn how you can take action to support human milk feeding families #EveryStepOfTheWay during National Breastfeeding Month: https://bit.ly/USBCNBM21 #NBM21

Continuity of Care

  • Continuity of Care in lactation support is about warm and coordinated hand-offs and transitions so that the needs of lactating families and those who support them are anticipated and met, #EveryStepOfTheWay. Register for the launch event webinar for the "Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities" on August 24, 1 p.m. ET: http://bit.ly/CoCBlueprintLaunch
  • Adequate Continuity of Care results in transitions of care that are coordinated and fully supportive of families throughout their breastfeeding journey. Continuity of Care in lactation support also refers to the establishment of proactive, supportive environments where families live, work, play, and raise children through the implementation of organizational policies, systems and environment (PSE) solutions. Connect with your local breastfeeding coalition to learn more: https://bit.ly/BreastfeedingCoalitions
  • As maternal and pediatric care is often not centralized, family units receive direct and indirect support in different settings across the first 1,000 days. Ensuring comprehensive lactation support services during this period requires intentional coordination among the spectrum of lactation support providers and others who interact with families across various community settings in both prenatal and postpartum periods. Register for the launch event webinar for the "Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities" on August 24, 1 p.m. ET: http://bit.ly/CoCBlueprintLaunch
  • Establishing Continuity of Care in lactation support is key to improving breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates, advancing equity, and improving overall community health. Learn about different types of Lactation Support Providers that can provide support #EveryStepOfTheWay: https://bit.ly/LSPTable #NBM21

Action Opportunities

  • Everyone can help support breast/chestfeeding! This National Breastfeeding Month, take action to help create a landscape of support for new families: https://bit.ly/USBCAction #EveryStepOfTheWay #NBM21
  • The ongoing #COVID19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world, including dangerous compromises to the initiation and establishment of lactation. This year, National Breastfeeding Month is more important than ever. Let’s raise our voices to help eliminate the barriers to breastfeeding: https://bit.ly/USBCAction #NBM21
  • Nearly 9 million workers are not covered by the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law. This National Breastfeeding Month, take action in support of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act to ensure all workers are protected: https://bit.ly/PUMPAct21 #BreastfeedingIsBipartisan #PUMPAct #NBM21
  • Families need Congress to invest in breastfeeding programs! Take action this National Breastfeeding Month to call on Congress to increase funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program: https://bit.ly/BreastfeedingFY22 #BreastfeedingIsBipartisan #NBM21

Graphics:

Hashtags: #NBM21 #EveryStepOfTheWay #NationalBreastfeedingMonth

Additional Resources:

Source: W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

Theme: Nourishing Our Futures

Organizers: Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective

Graphics: Artwork by Erica Pretty Eagle Moore. Logo by Bowen Creative.

Hashtags: #NourishingOurFuture #IndigenousMilkMedicineWeek #IndigenousMilkMedicine #IndigyMilkHeals #NativeBreastfeedingWeek

Source: Adobe Stock

Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week

Theme: Reclaiming Our Tradition

Organizers: Asian & Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force

Graphics:

Suggested Instagram Post Copy: When Amy Chen's family immigrated from Taiwan, her mother gave up breastfeeding because of the idea of "assimilating into American Culture." Now a mother of three, Amy believes it's time to reclaim the tradition of breastfeeding. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: When Irene Siosan became a new mother, her husband did all the research and made sure she was being taken care of, ate well and slept well. Irene believes the support from her husband contributes to her successful breastfeeding experience. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: For To-wen Tseng, "breastfeeding saves lives" is real. Her grandmother breastfed constantly for 72 hours on a refugee boat during the 1949 Chinese Civil War and saved the lives of her then 3-year-old father and 1-year-old uncle. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: Laura Pul's baby had problems latching on, but she was determined to put her milk to use. She became an exclusive pumper and exclusively breastfed her daughter for six months. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: Dipa Shah-Patel's mother weaned her early but supported her to extend breastfeeding beyond her daugher's one-year-old birthday. "I think intuitively, my mom knows breastfeeding is the best, even for older children," says Dipa. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: Payal Pandya is the first woman of her generation in her family who chose breastfeeding over formula feeding. "I did a lot of research," she says, "I think my body makes milk for a reason!" #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory
Suggested Instagram Post Copy: "I had to learn about my daughter, she had to learn about me, and my husband had to learn about us..." There was a lot of learning, but Amy Han thinks it's worth it. #AANHPIBreastfeedingStory

Additional Resources:

Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee

Black Breastfeeding Week

Theme: The Big Pause: Collective Rest for Collective Power

Organizers: Black Breastfeeding Week

Follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Find local and community Black Breastfeeding Week events here.

Additional Resources:

Op-ed: Why We Need a Black Breastfeeding Week

#BreastfeedingIs Campaign

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, 1,000 Days and the National WIC Association launched a new campaign: #BreastfeedingIs. Join us by posting a selfie or a video on social media that explains what breastfeeding means to you! Whether you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding now, have done so in the past, or support others who breastfeed, we’d love to hear from you. Directions on how to get involved here. All month long we’ll be highlighting breastfeeding in different communities and how we can build a landscape of breastfeeding support. We hope you participate!

Source: © UNICEF/UN046138/Kljajo

General

Messages:

  • Access to paid leave helps provide women with the time they need to establish and continue breastfeeding, benefiting the health of families.
  • No mother should have to choose between providing for her family economically and nourishing her baby through breastfeeding.
  • Scaling up breastfeeding support for mothers is vital to saving children from malnutrition.
  • Breastfeeding is a universal solution that gives everyone a fair start in life.
  • Breastfeeding lays the foundation for moms, babies and families to survive and thrive.
  • We all have a role to play in supporting breastfeeding and those on their infant feeding journey.
  • Breastfeeding is life-saving, cost-effective and fundamental to building a healthier world.
  • From the very beginning, breastfeeding provides infants with optimal nutrition. Breastmilk is packed with antibodies, stem cells & other unique properties that build babies’ immunity.
  • When it comes to giving babies the healthiest start to life, breastfeeding is unmatched. But too many women face too many barriers to breastfeeding. This must change.
  • The nutrition baby gets from mom through her diet in pregnancy and while breastfeeding is the fuel that drives much of the brain’s early incredible transformation.
  • Supporting mothers to breastfeed throughout the 1,000-day window is critical to creating an environment that empowers all women to breastfeed.

Social Graphics:

Find a selection of social graphics sized for Twitter and Facebook/Instagram above.

Additional Resources:

Source: UNICEF/UN0135585/Selaam