Breastfeed Orange NC

Fostering First Food Equity for a Healthy, Welcoming Community.

August 2021

Celebrations and Updates!

August is an exciting month! It holds space for World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month. World Breastfeeding Week draws our attention to the challenges for breast/chestfeeding families worldwide and calls us to a shared responsibility in the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. National Breastfeeding Month brings the awareness closer to home and envisions "a world in which every family is supported at every step along the infant feeding journey."

Every Step of the Way National Breastfeeding Month 2021

• Week 1: World Breastfeeding Week

  • Theme: Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility

• Week 2: Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

  • Theme: Nourishing Our Futures

• Week 3: Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Week

  • Theme: Reclaiming Our Tradition

• Week 4: Black Breastfeeding Week

  • Theme: The Big Pause: Collective Rest for Collective Power

An article from Breastfeeding Communities reflects on both the progress and the current state of infant feeding in the US and globally.

Yes, there has been progress, and these August outreach and advocacy campaigns provide an opportunity to celebrate...It also is a time to take a closer look at the state of infant feeding throughout the world.

...all children 0-23 months are not optimally breastfed. Rather, we write in terms of “only.”...In the U.S., only 25.6% of infants are exclusively breastfeeding for six months and only a little under 40% are breastfeeding at one year.

Breastfeed Orange NC is working to change “only” to “more than” in our community. We are committed to equity in breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding support to ensure that all families can meet their infant feeding goals. We look forward to partnering with you to build a healthier and more equitable and welcoming Orange County.

Celebrations

Project Updates

Child Care

Breastfeed Orange NC has joined with Durham and Buncombe counties to offer monthly webinars for childcare providers - Building Blocks of Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Learning Bursts. The webinars continue until October, and recordings of the webinars will be available.

In addition to the webinars, the Orange County Partnership for Young Children is providing technical assistance and resources to assist Orange County childcare providers in achieving the local Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care designation. Reach out to learn more! 

Health Care

Piedmont Health Services is working with the NC Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBC) to meet the requirements for  the NCBC Mother Baby Outpatient Clinic award designation. 

The award is open to any outpatient medical clinic serving pregnant and postpartum patients, infants and children. Interested in learning more? Contact Breastfeed Orange NC. We would be happy to assist you!

Breastfeed Orange NC is committed to First Food Equity to improve the health and well-being of infants and their families. We continue to build awareness through education, resources, and outreach to businesses and organizations, healthcare providers, childcare providers, and educational systems.

We also know that we have a long way to go to support the many and diverse communities in Orange County. It is our goal to ensure that all are represented in the work of Breastfeed Orange NC. Consider becoming a part of this family-friendly initiative (orangenc@breastfeedingcommunities.org).

We embrace A Shared Responsibility to support families Every Step of the Way. Your donation is greatly needed to offset costs and grow the work of Breastfeed Orange NC. If you like the work, please consider giving today.

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