World Breastfeeding Week: It Takes a Village to Support a Breastfeeding Mother

This year's theme, "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start: Strengthen What Works," reminds us that every mother supported, every baby breastfed, and every community that champions breastfeeding is investing in a healthier, more sustainable future.

When we think about supporting breastfeeding, it's easy to picture a lactation consultant helping with latch or positioning. While professional guidance is incredibly valuable, support comes in many forms. Sometimes it's practical. Sometimes it's emotional. Often, it's simply knowing someone is there to say, "You're doing a wonderful job."

Every mother deserves support

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn't always mean it's easy. Some mothers experience sore nipples, concerns about milk supply, sleepy babies or feeding challenges in the first few days. Others may feel overwhelmed as they adjust to life with a newborn while recovering from birth themselves.

For many, it's not the breastfeeding that's hardest, it's feeling like they have to figure it all out on their own. A listening ear, a reassuring word or someone making a cup of tea while mum settles in for a feed can make a world of difference.

Partners matter more than they realise

Partners often ask, "How can I help if I can't breastfeed?" The answer is: in countless ways. They can bring baby to mum during the night, change nappies, prepare meals, refill a water bottle, encourage skin-to-skin contact, burp baby after feeds, or simply remind mum that she's doing an incredible job. Perhaps most importantly, they can protect her confidence.

A mother who feels encouraged is often more likely to continue breastfeeding through the inevitable ups and downs.

Family and friends play a role too

Many mothers receive plenty of advice after having a baby, sometimes more than they asked for! While advice is usually given with love, every baby and every breastfeeding journey is unique.

What worked for one family may not work for another. The most helpful support often sounds like:

"How can I help today?" rather than "This is what you should do."

Offering practical help around the home, bringing a meal, entertaining older siblings or simply sitting with a new mum while she feeds can lift a tremendous weight from her shoulders.

The value of professional support

Sometimes encouragement alone isn't enough. If breastfeeding is painful, baby isn't gaining weight as expected, or feeding simply doesn't feel right, seeking professional support early can prevent small challenges from becoming bigger ones.

This is where a Southern African Certified Lactation Consultant (SACLC) can make a meaningful difference.

SACLC-trained consultants provide evidence-based, compassionate care tailored to each mother and baby. They don't offer judgement or one-size-fits-all advice. Instead, they work alongside families, helping them understand what is happening, finding practical solutions and building confidence along the way.

Whether support is needed before birth, during those first precious days or months into the breastfeeding journey, mothers don't have to navigate it alone.

Support looks different for every family

Not every breastfeeding journey follows the same path.

• Some babies arrive prematurely.

• Some mothers recover from complicated births.

• Some families are navigating medical conditions, returning to work or caring for twins.

Support means meeting families where they are, without comparison or judgement. Every drop of breastmilk, every cuddle during skin-to-skin contact and every effort a parent makes deserves recognition.

Let's create a breastfeeding-friendly community

Supporting breastfeeding isn't only the responsibility of healthcare professionals. Employers can provide breastfeeding-friendly workplaces. Restaurants and cafés can welcome breastfeeding families without judgement. Communities can create safe spaces where mothers feel comfortable feeding their babies whenever and wherever they need to.

When society supports breastfeeding, mothers feel less isolated and babies benefit too.

This World Breastfeeding Week, let's stand together

Breastfeeding may begin with one mother and one baby, but its success is often shaped by everyone around them.

• A kind word.

• A helping hand.

• A knowledgeable healthcare professional.

• A supportive partner.

• A welcoming community.

These seemingly small acts of support can have a lasting impact on a family's breastfeeding journey. This World Breastfeeding Week, let's remember that when we support breastfeeding, we support healthier mothers, healthier babies and stronger families.

Because no mother should ever feel that she has to do it alone. ❤️