World Breastfeeding Week: We know what works, so why are many mothers still struggling?
Breastfeeding saves lives, yet millions of mothers still lack the support they need. This year's World Breastfeeding Week focuses on expanding the solutions that already work.
Every year, World Breastfeeding Week reminds the world of something health experts have said for decades: breastfeeding is one of the best starts a child can have in life.
The science behind that message is no longer in doubt. Breastfeeding protects babies against infections, supports healthy growth and development, and reduces the risk of diseases later in life. Mothers benefit too, with research linking breastfeeding to a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes and other health conditions.
So why are millions of mothers still unable to breastfeed the way health experts recommend?
That question is at the centre of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, observed from August 1 to 7. Under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” the World Health Organisation (WHO) is shifting attention from awareness to action.
The message is simple. The world already knows what helps mothers breastfeed successfully. What is missing is consistent support.
Decades of research have identified interventions that make a measurable difference. According to the WHO, skilled breastfeeding counselling can increase exclusive breastfeeding rates by 58 percent. Hospitals that implement the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative see a 45 percent increase in exclusive breastfeeding at six months.
Paid maternity leave is associated with a 52 percent increase, while countries with stronger regulation of breast milk substitute marketing report average exclusive breastfeeding rates of 54 percent, compared with 24 percent where such protections are weaker.
In other words, the challenge is no longer discovering what works. It is making those proven solutions available to every mother.
Breastfeeding remains one of the most powerful health interventions
Breastfeeding does much more than satisfy a baby’s hunger. WHO and UNICEF describe it as one of the most effective ways to improve child survival and long-term health. Breast milk contains the nutrients babies need during their first six months of life while providing antibodies that help protect against illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and ear infections, which remain among the leading causes of child deaths globally.
Research also suggests that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
The benefits extend beyond childhood. Studies have linked breastfeeding to improved cognitive development and better educational outcomes, while mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.
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Perhaps the most remarkable part is that these benefits begin almost immediately after birth. The thick yellow milk produced during the first few days, known as colostrum, is rich in antibodies and nutrients that strengthen a newborn’s immune system. Health experts often describe it as a baby’s first vaccine because of the protection it provides against infections during the earliest days of life.
Support matters more than people realise
Breastfeeding is often described as natural, but that does not necessarily mean it is easy. Many mothers experience difficulties during the first days after delivery. Some struggle with getting their babies to latch properly, while others worry they are not producing enough milk or experience pain during feeding.
Without proper guidance, those challenges can quickly become reasons to stop breastfeeding altogether. That is why this year’s campaign focuses less on convincing mothers to breastfeed and more on ensuring they receive the support needed to continue.
According to WHO, mothers who receive skilled breastfeeding counselling are significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed during the first six months. Support from trained healthcare workers, family members and community health programmes has repeatedly been shown to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Hospitals also play a major role. Facilities that follow the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global programme launched by WHO and UNICEF to promote breastfeeding immediately after birth, record substantially higher breastfeeding rates than those that do not.
The workplace can determine whether breastfeeding continues
For many women, one of the biggest tests begins after maternity leave ends. Returning to work often means balancing long working hours, commuting and childcare with regular breastfeeding or expressing breast milk. WHO says workplace support makes a measurable difference.
Employers that provide paid maternity leave, flexible working arrangements, breastfeeding breaks and clean, private spaces for expressing and storing breast milk help mothers continue breastfeeding for longer.
Without those policies, many women stop earlier than they intended, not because they want to but because balancing work and breastfeeding becomes increasingly difficult.
Formula marketing remains a global concern
Another focus of this year’s campaign is the aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. WHO says parents should have access to accurate, evidence-based information when making feeding decisions rather than being influenced by misleading advertising.
The organisation notes that countries enforcing stronger regulations on the marketing of breast milk substitutes consistently record higher exclusive breastfeeding rates than those with weaker protections.
This is one reason why WHO continues to encourage governments to fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which aims to ensure parents receive impartial information about infant feeding.
Why this matters in Nigeria
Nigeria has made progress in promoting breastfeeding, but challenges remain. Many mothers still face difficulties accessing skilled breastfeeding support, particularly in underserved communities where healthcare workers are limited. Others return to work without adequate maternity protection or breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.
Exclusive breastfeeding rates have improved over the years, but they remain below the level needed to achieve global nutrition targets.
Health experts say increasing those numbers will require more than awareness campaigns. It will depend on stronger health systems, improved maternity protection, supportive workplaces and continued investment in community healthcare.
