National Breastfeeding Month

 
 
 
 

What is National Breastfeeding Month?

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month (NBM) is an annual event in August to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and to increase support for families. Initiated in 2011 by the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), the goal of the yearly celebration is to improve the nation’s health by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. Mamava celebrates breastfeeding every month of the year, but the annual recognition of a dedicated month is an important way to help people everywhere understand the value of breastfeeding—for babies, mothers, families, and public health.


2025 National Breastfeeding Month theme

Each year USBC selects a new theme for NBM and the 2025 theme is “Forward Together”—to highlight the importance of collective action and advocacy. Through their social media campaign—each year they create downloadable image assets to use on social media—and large membership organization, USBC is committed to advancing the public policies, systems, and infrastructure needed to improve access to breast milk. 


Weeks celebrated during National Breastfeeding Month

Each week of National Breastfeeding Month has a specific focus to help raise awareness about breastfeeding in different cultures and communities. These weekly cultural observations highlight the organizations and individuals working to advance maternal health equity, reduce breastfeeding disparities, and elevate the importance of breast milk. 

Black Breastfeeding Week

Celebrated annually from August 25-31, Black Breastfeeding Week was created in 2014 by Black leaders from the breastfeeding field: Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka. The week focuses on the efforts and initiatives to improve maternal health and birth outcomes in the Black community and was created as a direct response to the high black infant mortality rate, the lack of diversity in the lactation field, and unique cultural barriers among Black women. The 2025 theme for this week is: Boots on the Ground: Rooted in BFng Success, Grounded in Community.

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week (IMMW) was created in 2019 by the Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective and is celebrated annually from August 8-14. Formerly known as Native Breastfeeding Week, the observance encourages and uplifts the diversity of Native breast/chestfeeding experiences. The 2025 theme for this week is: Unapologetically Indigenous: Love, Landback, & Liberation.

Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week was created in 2021 by the Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force and is celebrated annually from August 15-21. The mission is to decrease inequities and normalize chest/breastfeeding in AANHPI communities by improving education and support practices. The 2025 theme for this week is: Diverse Voices, One Vision.


Latina/x Breastfeeding Week

Semana de La Lactancia Latina was created in 2023 by the Union de Lideres de Lactancia Latino (Latinx Lactation Collective) and is celebrated annually on the first Tuesday following Labor Day to the following Monday. The observance aims to uplift voices from the Latino/x community, and celebrate the diverse cultures and resilience of Latino communities. The collective also strives to bring awareness to the unique barriers faced by these communities and advocates for language justice.


Military Lactation Celebration

The Global Military Lactation Community was created by the Military Lactation Celebration in 2023 as an annual celebration from August 22-24. The observance aims to inspire and empower military families in their breastfeeding goals and provide support for servicemembers and their families.


Workplace Lactation Week

Workplace Lactation Week was first created in 2023 and is now an annual celebration from September 1-7. The observance highlights the contributions of breastfeeding mothers and parents in the workplace by intentionally aligning with Labor Day. The 2025 theme for this week is: A World of Support: Creating Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplaces Everywhere.


Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week 

The DC Breastfeeding Coalition announced that the first Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week will take place during National Breastfeeding Month September 16-22. The DC Breastfeeding Coalition will collaborate with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Collective to celebrate with a series of virtual online events.


International Celebration: World Breastfeeding Week



World Breastfeeding Week

Created in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually from August 1-7. In the United States, National WIC Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week to promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of infant nutrition.


How to Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month

It really does take a village to support breastfeeding parents, so the more organizations can do to recognize and celebrate breastfeeding, the more we can evolve our culture to be more supportive of families at work and in public. Here are a few key things organizations can do to help celebrate NBM:


How employers and workplaces can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month 



How public venues and public spaces can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month



  • Share information about NBM and how your organization supports breastfeeding in August communications, digital signage, and social media. 

  • Ensure guests and visitors have private lactation spaces.

  • Provide visible wayfinding signage and easy access for all lactation spaces.