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Going green for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week
Posted by Claire Boote, on August 5, 2020.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
This week we’re celebrating amazing mums and gorgeous babies for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1st – 7th August) with tips and advice, plus a special ‘eco’ offer (see below…).
For 2020 the global awareness week is promoting the environmental benefits of breastfeeding, and the deep connection between human health and nature’s eco systems. Breastmilk is the ultimate natural and renewable food source being delivered straight from producer to consumer! And with no need for the packaging, plastic and cleaning that comes with formulated baby milk, breastfeeding means less waste and energy use every time your baby has a feed.
Health Benefits
The health benefits of breastfeeding, for both mother and baby, are strong. Not only does breastmilk include all of the nutrients your baby needs, but it also contains antibodies to protect your baby against infection: if your baby has a cold they then pass this on to you, your body gets to work producing the antibodies to fight the virus, these antibodies pass into your breastmilk, which is then fed to your baby the next time you breastfeed.
When your baby latches on, it prompts the body to produce the ‘feel good’ hormone, which combined with the special skin-to-skin bonding time you share with your little one, can help keep post-natal depression at bay. Women’s bodies are amazing!
But despite the clear benefits, the UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world – just 34% of babies are exclusively breastfed at six months, dropping to 0.5% at one year. The World Health Organisation recommends babies are exclusively breastfed for six months, with complementary foods being added to the diet while breastfeeding continues for two years or more. Social and cultural norms in the UK, coupled with work commitments and other life pressures, tend to limit the timeframe that mothers feel comfortable breastfeeding their children. We also know that many mothers find it physically difficult to breastfeed, and the (often fierce) bottle vs breast debate just adds unnecessary pressure.
If you’re trying breastfeeding for the first time, here are some useful tips to make it easier for you and your baby [source: NHS]
1. To encourage your baby to latch on, hold your baby close to you with their nose level with the nipple.
2. Let your baby’s head tip back a little so that their top lip can brush against your nipple. This should help your baby to make a wide, open mouth.
3. When your baby’s mouth is open wide enough their chin should be able to touch your breast first, with their head tipped back so that their tongue can reach as much of your breast as possible.
4. With your baby’s chin firmly touching your breast and their nose clear, their mouth should be wide open. When they attach you should see much more of the darker nipple skin above your baby’s top lip than below their bottom lip. Your baby’s cheeks will look full and rounded as they feed.
5. You can tell if your baby is feeding well if you notice a few rapid sucks followed by longer sucks; their cheeks stay rounded (not sucked in) and you may hear swallowing; your baby seems calm and comes off the breast themselves when they’ve had enough.
At Royce, we design our maternity bras in consultation with pregnant women and breastfeeding mums to ensure we create fantastic underwear that gives the correct support for your changing breasts, helps you breastfeed comfortably and looks great!
And to celebrate this year’s eco-friendly World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, we’ve teamed up with the fabulous Mama Designs to give away 50 packs of Bamboo Reusable Breast Pads (8x super soft, washable nipple pads) worth £10.95 with every purchase of two or more nursing bras. Simply add a pack of the breast pads to your basket then two or nursing bras and the full amount will be discounted.
Be quick, this is only while stocks last. Shop our maternity range including our best-selling styles:
Indie Nursing
This year we launched Indie, with moulded cups and lace detailing this petrol blue bra has retainer straps allowing more skin-to-skin contact when breastfeeding
Blossom Nursing
Our best-selling Blossom maternity bra, with its innovative 2-way design, can be adjusted up to three cup sizes (perfect for fluctuating breast size)
Maisie Nursing
The ever-popular Maisie maternity bra comes in pretty coral, and is a sleek and stylish option
Florence
If you want to make more of a statement when breastfeeding, try the bold floral print of Florence, in teal or aubergine and cream
If you’re experiencing any problems with breastfeeding there is plenty of help and advice out there. Talk to your midwife or health visitor, or you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 (9.30am to 9.30pm, daily); visit the NHS website’s dedicated breastfeeding pages; or get online support and advice from other mums via HealthTalk.org. You can also find specialist breastfeeding support via La Leche League GB who also run local support groups.
Don’t forget to share your own experiences of breastfeeding and join the conversation on our social media channels using the hashtag #WBW2020.
