News Summary
Savannah is set to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from August 1-7, with a special event on August 2 at Forsyth Park. This gathering will focus on the importance of breastfeeding, highlighting community support for nursing mothers through games, a Walk for Breastfeeding Awareness, and informative activities. With health benefits for both infants and mothers, the celebration aims to foster a supportive environment while promoting initiatives like the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and the new Lowcountry Milk Connection for breast milk donation.
Savannah will host a celebration for World Breastfeeding Week from August 1-7, 2025. This celebration will take place on Saturday, August 2, from 9-11 a.m. at Forsyth Park, aiming to promote the importance of breastfeeding and highlight community support for nursing mothers.
Anticipated activities for the event include games, raffle prizes, and a Walk for Breastfeeding Awareness set to commence at 9:45 a.m. The gathering will emphasize the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Recognized as one of the most effective means of ensuring infant health, breast milk is easily digestible and contains antibodies that help shield infants from infections.
Moreover, breastfeeding offers significant benefits for mothers, including reduced risks of certain cancers, improved cardiovascular health, and strengthened bonds with their babies. The Coastal Health District’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program provides essential year-round support to assist breastfeeding mothers in the community.
In recognition of efforts to support breastfeeding, Georgia Southern University (GS) has been designated as a breastfeeding-friendly institution. This recognition is due to the university’s implementation of designated lactation spaces across its campuses, with three lactation rooms each at the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses. Healthy Savannah awarded GS a certificate of recognition for its commitment to creating welcoming facilities for breastfeeding mothers.
Supporting these initiatives, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a $5.1 million REACH grant aimed at promoting health equity concerning nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and chronic disease prevention. The month of August is also recognized as National Breastfeeding Month, focusing on the importance of supporting families with newborns and fostering workplace inclusivity for breastfeeding employees.
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risks of diseases such as asthma and type 1 diabetes while enhancing immunity for infants. This aligns with the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, signed into law in December 2022, which extended workplace protections for breastfeeding individuals. In light of this, local efforts are underway to cultivate breastfeeding-friendly environments within workplaces, addressing barriers such as unsupportive policies, lack of parental leave, cultural norms, and inadequate family support.
Additionally, Black Breastfeeding Week will be observed from August 25-31, focusing on the unique challenges that Black mothers face when breastfeeding. Throughout the month, various free community events promoting breastfeeding will be hosted by partnerships among local organizations. For instance, Glow Lactation will conduct a peer advocates session on August 29 at Georgia Southern University, aimed at educating community members on breastfeeding advocacy.
Furthermore, the Coastal Health District is actively offering virtual WIC advocate training sessions, with the next session scheduled for August 25. Glow Lactation also features a Mommy Moments Breastfeeding Support Group designed specifically for Black mothers, addressing their unique experiences and needs in breastfeeding.
A new initiative, the Lowcountry Milk Connection, has emerged as a community alliance in Savannah, creating resources for mothers in need of breast milk. This alliance facilitates connections between donors and recipients to improve the accessibility of breast milk. Donated breast milk can be safely stored in a freezer for up to 12 months and for six months in a standard frozen state, with guidelines provided for safe pasteurization for infants.
In summary, the World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Savannah aims not only to raise awareness about the health benefits of breastfeeding but also to foster a supportive environment for nursing mothers. Through community initiatives, educational sessions, and advocacy efforts, the celebration marks an important step in enhancing breastfeeding support for all families.
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Additional Resources
- Savannah Tribune: Recognizes Georgia Southern University as a Breastfeeding Welcome Here Space
- Carriage Trade PR: Healthy Savannah Recognizes Georgia Southern University
- WSAV: GSU Recognized as a Breastfeeding Welcoming Space
- WTOC: Local Breastfeeding Program Manager Discusses Initiative
- Wikipedia: Breastfeeding
