World Alliance for Breastfeeding (WABA)
Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week in over 120 countries

2006 World Breastfeeding Week & Awareness Month: August 1-7, 2006

Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding
Celebrations for World Breastfeeding Week and Breastfeeding Awareness Month

• Governor proclaimed World Breastfeeding Week/Month 2006

• Family Health Promotion Awards for Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces

• Public Breastfeeding Education Resources

Click here to learn more about WABA.

• Los Angeles County Event: Whittier

• Orange County Event: Orange County WBW 2006 Cabaret

• Check out the World Walks here.

LLL USA WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK CELEBRATION - QUOTES TO USE

World Breastfeeding Awareness Month Promotion Tips from the Task Force:

• National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign

• English & Spanish Breastfeeding Slogans

• FREE Video, pamphlets, posters: Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding

• Materials from International Board of Lactation consultants

---

The mission of the California Department of Health Services is to protect and improve the health of all Californians.

Director’s Weekly Health Tip - The Benefits of Breastfeeding

August 1 through 7 is World Breastfeeding Week and the Governor has proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

Exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of life provides the most complete form of nutrition, supports optimal growth and development, and reduces the incidence of infant illnesses.  Also, breastfeeding enhances an infant’s cognitive development, leading to improved academic performance in later years.

For women, breastfeeding reduces the risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis and helps women recover from childbirth more quickly.

The benefits of breastfeeding continue throughout life reducing the incidence of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes in children and adults.

Breastfeeding is economical, reducing health care costs and employee absenteeism.  Also, breastfeeding is environmentally sound, conserving natural resources.

California is one of the first states in the country to reduce a major barrier to exclusive breastfeeding by enacting legislation requiring all employers to make a reasonable effort to provide employees adequate break time and private facilities to express breast  milk.

The percentage of California mothers that breastfeed at least once in the hospital exceeds the national goal of 75%, having increased from 71.9% to 83.5% over a ten year period through 2002.  The percentage of California mothers that "exclusively" breastfeed (do not provide formula) in the hospital has remained about the same over a ten year period (40.3% in 1992 and 41.8% in 2002.) 

For more information, please contact the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Branch at (916) 928-8888 or visit WIC’s breastfeeding resources page at http://www.wicworks.ca.gov/breastfeeding/BFResources.html

---

What is the WBW?

The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is the greatest outreach vehicle for the breastfeeding movement, being celebrated in over 120 countries. Officially it is celebrated from 1–7 August. However, groups may choose other dates to make it a more successful event in their countries. Please contact the breastfeeding group listed in the action folder nearest to you. 

What is this year's WBW theme all about?

• Draw attention to the value of continuing to breastfeed children to 2 years or beyond.

• Raise awareness of the risks and costs of introducing other foods and drinks to breastfed babies before 6 months, thereby strengthening support for 6 months exclusive breastfeeding.

• Up-date information and ideas about the kinds of other foods and drinks needed by older breastfed babies and young children after 6 months.

• Share ideas for making complementary feeding easier, healthier and a time for learning and love.

---

Downloadable Material

To download, please  right-click your mouse on the link and choose "Save Target As.."

WBW 2006 Materials :

WBW 2006 Calendar: English | French | Spanish

WBW 2006 Posters: English | French

WBW 2006 Action Folder

Useful Resources:
Risks of Formula Feeding for Infant & Children  |  History of the Code

---

SPONSORSHIP:  WABA does not accept sponsorship of any kind from companies producing breastmilk substitutes, related equipment and complementary foods. WABA encourages all participants of World Breastfeeding Week to respect and follow this ethical stance. All WABA materials are NOT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH or BY BUSINESS INTERESTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION or SALE of breastmilk substitutes, related equipment, breastpumps and complementary foods.

WBW participants reproducing or adapting WABA materials in total or in part, should credit WABA, by reproducing the WBW logo in their materials. Please send a copy of all translations and adaptations of WABA/WBW materials to the WABA Secretariat. 

WABA Home | What is WABA | WABA Activities | WABA Documents | Special Pages

---

  Breastfeeding Weeks Archive: BF 1999 | BF 2000 | BF 2001  |  BF 2002 | BF 2003 | BF 2004