World Breastfeeding Week 2024 | 1-7 August
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated worldwide annually from 1 to 7 August. This global campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and its many advantages.
This year's theme is Breastfeeding support for all. Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is continuing its mission and sharing our vision for a breastfeeding inclusive society ensuring access to breastfeeding support for mums and families.
ABA has been around to support and empower mums from diverse cultures for 60 years. Many ABA members were born outside of Australia and turned to ABA to find community, support, training, and volunteer opportunities. For these women, ABA has become a second family.
When asked, mums from diverse communities said that there were language difficulties in communicating about breastfeeding and a lack of social support and follow-up care. This often led to them stopping breastfeeding early. To support equity of access and remove barriers to breastfeeding support, cultural practices, and language backgrounds need to be considered when planning breastfeeding support for diverse communities.
ABA becomes a family for new mums when they're away from their support network
Katerina,
Mum to 2.5-year-old Luna reflected on how the National Breastfeeding Helpline reassured her in the early weeks of breastfeeding. Katerina recently became an ABA volunteer to provide that same reassuring support to other mums.
"The ABA Helpline has been invaluable to me. I called 4 or 5 times, and they were incredibly helpful each time. They made me feel heard and reassured that I was on the right track."
Regine
Mum to a 4-year-old, with no family support in Australia, Regine was grateful ABA was there to support her. She had felt isolated without her family and ABA provided a community of support for her.
"I wanted to continue learning and meeting like-minded mothers. Through my breastfeeding training at ABA, I met many inspiring mentors. I now enjoy volunteering on the ABA Helpline."
Lanita
Lanita's family all live in Thailand so after the birth of her two babies she turned to ABA for support.
"I accessed the ABA website to educate myself and stay up to date with reliable and trusted information. I also joined a local group and found my tribe through this group."
Liz
Liz was born in Russia (USSR technically, but it stopped existing in a short few months), and both her babies were born in Australia. She met her Australian husband while studying for her Masters and never left! She is involved in ABA’s Social Media working group and helps to craft relatable content, memes and stories for the organisation’s Instagram account.
"The ABA environment was very warm, fuzzy and motherly. Broadly, all resources are easy to understand even under sleep deprivation and are evidence-based and factual whilst remaining non-judgemental and supportive."
World Breastfeeding Week 2024 - Free events for parents
In your local community
Search your ABA local group calendar for celebration events near you.
1 - 7 Aug
Connect & Share live
‘How breastfeeding helps you care for your baby, especially when times are tough’.
Tue, 6 Aug, 7:30pm AEST
'Ask me anything'
Your rights on access breastfeeding support and opportunities.
1 - 7 Aug on Instagram and Facebook
World Breastfeeding Week 2024 - Free events for health professionals
Live panel webinar
A live panel webinar for health professionals in partnership with LCANZ.
Wed, 7 August, 7:00 – 8:30pm AEST
World Breastfeeding Week events for ABA Virtual Village members
Newborn Virtual Village
Sleep and breastfeeding in the early weeks
Thu, 1 Aug, 10 - 11am AEST
Breastfeeding Preparation Session
Learn how to breastfeed with our qualified breastfeeding educators
Sat, 3 Aug, 3 - 4:30pm AEST
Newborn Virtual Village
Intimacy and wellbeing post-birth
Tue, 6 Aug, 1 - 2pm AEST
