August is National Breastfeeding Month

Posted by Nora Barnett on August 27th, 2024 Posted in: Blog
Tags: Breastfeeding

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August is national breastfeeding month. We have compiled some resources to help raise awareness and help you provide support for anyone who is breastfeeding or chestfeeding! 

• The Office of Women’s Health offers breastfeeding resources, including information on the benefits of breastfeeding, solutions for common breastfeeding challenges, support for nursing mothers at work, and specific materials tailored to Black families.

• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a resource for health providers, especially those supporting new parents with medical challenges and/or babies who have medical challenges. Their resources page offers protocols that support best practices in breastfeeding medicine, evidence-based videos as part of the “What Every Physician Needs to Know” series, and a collection of parent handouts in multiple languages.  

• LactMed is a database from the National Library of Medicine that provides evidence-based information on the effects of drugs and other chemicals on breastfeeding mothers. It includes details about drug levels in breast milk, potential effects on lactation and infants, and alternative medications.

• La Leche League is a layperson led nonprofit organization, which provides support groups in English and Spanish. 

• The WIC Breastfeeding Rights page has information on the legal rights of breastfeeding parents, including protections for breastfeeding in public and for pumping milk at work. Find tips for breastfeeding in public and information on overcoming common breastfeeding challenges. WIC offers a buddy program, peer counselors, and trained breastfeeding experts. 

• Healthy Horizons has a curated list of resources related to breastfeeding in the workplace, covering laws and compliance, designing lactation spaces, creating a supportive workplace culture, lactation-friendly policies, and educational workshops.

• MedlinePlus has reliable, easy to understand information for nursing parents. It includes a breastfeeding summary page with links to many related topics, information on overcoming breastfeeding problems, a page on breastfeeding self-care, and a collection of breast feeding related patient handouts in multiple languages.  

• The Infant Risk Center, out of Texas Tech Health Sciences University has several useful resources 
  • For healthcare providers: The InfantRisk App offers health care providers fast, convenient access to up-to-date and evidence-based information about prescription and non-prescription medications and their safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • For nursing parents: The MommyMeds app allows parents to scan barcodes for over-the-counter medication, search for prescription drugs, and receive up-to-date, easy to understand safety information on their safety while breastfeeding. 
  • For parents AND providers: InfantRisk Call Center is a free call center for parents or providers, staffed by experienced nurses. Open Monday through Friday, 8AM to 3PM CST. 1-806-352-2519 

Specifically for your community

Black Breastfeeding Week The theme this year is Listen Up: Storytelling as Critical Support for Breastfeeding Justice. Black Breastfeeding Week is taking place August 25-31, 2024. Check out live and virtual events, meet the founders, watch videos, and find a social media toolkit at https://blackbreastfeedingweek.org/. 

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week The 2024 theme is Bridging the Gaps for AANHPI Families. Check out these AANHPI breast/chestfeeding resources.  

Latinx Breastfeeding Week This year’s theme is Reclaiming Our Culture Through Breastfeeding, taking place September 3-9, 2024. Follow the official Facebook page to stay informed about events.