Mercy Medical Center is committed to providing resources for new and expecting parents to help them learn about and succeed in breastfeeding. This year, community partners were invited to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by providing information about their services and how they support the breastfeeding initiative. In addition to the services offered through Mercy's Family Life Center, attendees also learned about the offerings of the Nest Collaborative and the local WIC program.
World Breastfeeding Week, a global initiative that raises awareness and support for breastfeeding, takes place each year during the first week of August and focuses on a unique theme. This year’s theme was “Enabling Breastfeeding – Making a Difference for Working Parents,” focusing on the impact of paid leave, workplace support, and the emerging parenting norms on breastfeeding. Workplace challenges remain the most common reason for mothers to never breastfeed or stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended.