August is National Breastfeeding Month, and August 1-7 was World Breastfeeding Week.   

In recognition of these observances, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is raising awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and challenging DHEC staff to work together to ensure “breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition,” as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.   

WIC promotes and supports breastfeeding as an important part of its nutrition service benefits to meet its mission of safeguarding the health of low-income women, infants, and children. All WIC staff promote breastfeeding as the optimal method of feeding unless the individual has been medically advised not to breastfeed. WIC staff encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed for six months and continue breastfeeding, with the addition of complementary foods, for the first two years of life and thereafter, if mutually desired.  

When it comes to breastfeeding, all moms need support. This support may come from family, friends, physicians, community, WIC and other DHEC staff.    

National Breastfeeding Month (NBM)   
This year’s 2023 National Breastfeeding Month theme is “This is Our Why.”    

“The 2023 NBM theme, ‘This is Our Why,’ will help shine a light on why this work is so important and center the conversation on the babies and families who need our support,” states The United States Breastfeeding Committee.     

South Carolina WIC strives to build partnerships with hospital systems and community organizations that play a role in making breastfeeding the easiest, most convenient way for a mom to feed her baby.     

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 
Last week, DHEC joined the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in the campaign for World Breastfeeding Week.

This year’s theme is “ENABLING BREASTFEEDING: Making a difference for working parents.” According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the theme “will focus on breastfeeding and employment/work. It will showcase the impact of paid leave, workplace support and emerging parenting norms on breastfeeding through the lens of parents themselves.“

Learn more about World Breastfeeding Week.