Mad about Mama Milk Monday: Communication is the Key to Breastfeeding Success for Mama, Baby & World

love. Love. LOVE the recently announced theme for the 2011 World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7...

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is pleased to announce the World Breastfeeding Week theme for 2011 focusing on engaging and mobilizing youth intergenerational work with the catchy slogan of: "Talk to me! Breastfeeding - a 3D Experience".

I am so tickled about this focus because it encourages us all, breastfeeding mamas, lactivists, health educators, health care professionals and IBCLCs to think outside of the traditional box of breastfeeding support, and focus on communication as a key to breastfeeding success!  Without a doubt, communication mediums are changing constantly, therefore our way of reaching others must also evolve over time if we hope to be effective in our reach to the people we wish to serve/impact and effective in the outcomes of our work. 

Breastfeeding has been happening since the beginning of time- well since Adam and Eve became the parents of Cain and Abel, but that doesn't mean our support and education methods should mimic such archaic methods.  Don't get me wrong, I do not think that we need to muddy the waters with an overcomplicated message.  Just the opposite!  The beauty of today's technology, especially with social media at the forefront of daily communication, allows simple, effective and powerful messages to be disseminated with amazing impact!  These efforts can create outcomes (my wish list), such as:

• increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding
• dispel myths of breastfeeding (pain, time commitment
• reduce embarrassment of exposure
• inform mothers of their options when it comes to a "low" milk supply
• alter the "norm" of infant feeding to mother's milk
• increase accessibility of pumping at work sites and not just acceptance, but ENCOURAGEMENT to breastfeed!
• and much more!

Communication can, and will assist in making my wish list a reality!  I'm with ya WABA... and I'll help to communicate the wonders, beauty and life-saving importance of breastfeeding! 

Happy Milking Mamas!