Another Year, Another Campaign
Every year from the first to the seventh of August, World Breastfeeding Week offers us a gentle and important opportunity to reflect, raise awareness and gather in support of mothers and babies across the world. It is a time to celebrate breastfeeding in all its beautiful forms, to shine a light on the support that families truly need, and to honour the connection between a baby and the woman who feeds them.
This year’s theme feels deeply aligned with everything I believe in and everything I offer as a doula, a breastfeeding mother and a Breastfeeding Counsellor. The theme is Prioritise Breastfeeding. Create Sustainable Support Systems. It reminds us that breastfeeding is not simply a personal choice. It is an experience shaped by systems, support and community. Breastfeeding thrives when it is protected, supported and nurtured.
Why This Week Needs More Attention
As someone who has breastfed my own baby and supported others through their journeys, I know how powerful it can be. But I also know how fragile it can feel in the beginning. I have seen how many people stop feeding before they are ready. Not because they wanted to, but because they were not offered the support they deserved.
Breastfeeding is a symbiotic relationship. It is often tender, emotional, and vulnerable. It can take time, practice and reassurance. With the right support in place it can become something truly grounding, joyful and empowering.
That is what this blog is here for. That is what my work is here for. During World Breastfeeding Week, I will be sharing daily reflections and resources on my Instagram and here on the blog to support and inspire families. I will talk about the science behind breastmilk, common myths, reasons people struggle, and the real solutions that can help. My goal is always to walk beside parents, not ahead of them.
What Does Sustainable Support Mean?
Sustainable support means more than just one helpful appointment. It means more than one encouraging voice. A whole system built around breastfeeding families that helps them feel held, informed and respected.
It means every person a parent turns to is speaking from a place of knowledge and kindness. Support is consistent across professionals and services. In short, it means that that families feel able to ask questions without fear of being judged.
Sustainable support means recognising that breastfeeding does not always follow a straight path. It may involve expressing milk, combination feeding, re-lactation, or sourcing donor milk. It may last for weeks, months or years, and it deserves to be supported at every stage.
So often I hear stories from families who were told their baby was feeding too much or not gaining weight fast enough or that their milk might not be enough. As a result, these comments, even when said gently, can cause real harm. They plant seeds of doubt that can quickly grow.
This is why education is so important. Why community support matters, and why continuity of care is essential. Finally, it is why I am here, doing this work with my whole heart.
Why I Care So Deeply
My own breastfeeding experience was life changing for me. It was not always simple or smooth, I had a couple of latch issues in the early days which were corrected by an inspiring Breastfeeding Educator. There were moments I felt unsure, moments I cried from exhaustion, moments I felt incredibly proud. All of it taught me to trust my instincts and listen to my baby. It taught me how vital gentle support is.
Through my experience, I began to see the cracks in the system. I saw families being failed by rushed appointments, conflicting advice and a lack of accessible support. I saw how quickly doubt could take root. As a result, I knew I wanted to help change that.
Now, as I train to become a certified Lactation Consultant on the IBCLC pathway, I see supporting breastfeeding families as part of my life’s work, to gently guide people through the fog of uncertainty and into a space where they feel informed, calm and confident.
What You Can Expect on My Blog and Social Media
This blog and my social spaces are here to offer honest, heart-centred support for every part of the breastfeeding journey. This World Breastfeeding Week I have been sharing posts that include:
• The science and wonder of breastmilk
• How breastfeeding changes to meet your baby’s needs
• Why most people can make enough milk when supported well
• How to navigate bottle preference and top-ups
• Thoughts on breastfeeding beyond babyhood
• Returning to work while continuing to breastfeed
• Common myths about breastfeeding and the truth behind them
• Stories from real mothers who have walked this path
• Gentle support for parents who wanted to breastfeed but were unable to
Whether you are breastfeeding now, planning to in future or simply want to learn more, I hope these posts bring clarity and connection. You are always welcome here.
Why Prioritising Breastfeeding Matters
Breastfeeding is about more than nutrition. It supports the immune system, aids in emotional regulation and contributes to lifelong health for both baby and mother. It reduces the risk of illness and supports attachment. It is one of the earliest ways a baby learns about safety, love and connection.
But it is also about the parent. It is about their experience, their recovery, their body and their confidence. To prioritise breastfeeding is to prioritise parental wellbeing. It is to honour the right to breastfeed, by saying that we see you, we value you, and we are here to walk alongside you.
We must continue to fight for systems that make breastfeeding possible. That includes better hospital practices, more support after birth, accessible lactation care, workplace accommodations and social understanding.
A Gentle Invitation
If you are a parent, know that your experience matters. Whether you breastfed for two days or two years, whether you are feeding exclusively, expressing or finding your own way, you deserve kindness and support.
If you are a professional or someone supporting new families, thank you. Your voice carries weight. Your encouragement can be a turning point in someone’s journey.
Let us create communities where breastfeeding is supported by everyone. Let us make sure no mother is left to navigate this alone. Let us build sustainable support that lasts long after the early days. One where months and years later, like me, there are only positive memories and lifelong connections made.
Thank you for being here. I am so glad you have found this space.
With love,
Pippa x
Doula care, breastfeeding support and the gentle holding of mothers through every season
