Support for Breastfeeding Mothers

During World Breastfeeding Week, we join communities around the world in promoting the importance of breastfeeding. For both mother and child, breastfeeding has significant health benefits. It can be lifesaving for infants, especially in low-resource communities that lack access to high-quality healthcare and clean water. Yet globally, fewer than half of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed. Many mothers struggle alone without the support they need to start or continue their breastfeeding journey.

World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from Aug. 1-7 each year, aims to change this by raising awareness and inspiring action around breastfeeding. If all children under two received optimal breastfeeding, an estimated 820,000 lives could be saved each year—an incredible testament to the power and potential of breastfeeding.

Promoting the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother and Child

Encouraging breastfeeding is a key component of CMMB’s maternal and child health initiatives, including CMMB’s signature program, Children and Mothers Partnerships (CHAMPS). We recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the critical first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond. Breastfeeding provides foundational nutrition, helps babies build a strong immune system, and protects them from childhood illnesses. For mothers, exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

In the places where we work, successful breastfeeding can be a matter of life or death. Formula is often not available, or too expensive. If a mother is unable to produce enough milk—or is prevented from breastfeeding regularly due to the demands of daily survival—her baby may become malnourished, putting their healthy development at risk.

The Bishop Joseph Sullivan Hospital, supported by CMMB, is on its way to earning certification as a Friendly-Baby Hospital. This recognition means that the facility meets international standards to support the best nutritional outcomes for newborn babies, including the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding. Through home visits and mother support groups, we educate women on the importance of breastfeeding and dispel common misconceptions. Many mothers need guidance and encouragement to breastfeed successfully. CMMB-supported community health workers share useful lactation tips and a listening ear, helping women like Jeronne, a young mother in Haiti, overcome breastfeeding challenges.

Jeronne’s Story

Jeronne felt overwhelmed. Just a few days earlier, she gave birth to a daughter who arrived in the world far too early—two months before her due date. Now, the exhausted mother and her tiny, fragile baby were home from the hospital, on their own. Jeronne, who is 22, tried to breastfeed, but her baby was too small to latch properly. The newborn cried all day and night, her little body seeming to shrink. Jeronne had never felt more alone.

Then help arrived. Christianne is a CMMB-supported community health worker who delivers compassionate care to families in Côtes-de-Fer, the remote community on Haiti’s southeastern coast where Jeronne lives. When she heard that Jeronne was struggling, she quickly visited.

Sitting beside Jeronne, Christianne shared gentle guidance. She talked about the importance of skin-to-skin contact, showing Jeronne how to place her tiny baby on her chest to stimulate warmth and bonding. Since her baby was too weak to latch, Christianne showed Jeronne how to express milk by hand, then use a clean spoon to feed her baby. Even small amounts would nourish her child, Christianne reassured the new mother.

Everything changed once Jeronne had support. Christianne visited regularly to make sure that Jeronne was eating enough nutritious food to support her milk production. Gradually, Jeronne’s milk supply increased. So did her daughter’s strength.

Jeronne and her healthy baby girl.

After just two weeks of Christianne’s support, Jeronne’s tiny baby was breastfeeding effectively. Instead of crying from hunger, she slept peacefully, her belly full of her mother’s nutritious milk. Months later, she continues to gain weight. She’s a healthy baby, with a hopeful future.

A life was saved—thanks to Jeronne’s strength and determination and Christianne’s compassionate support. During World Breastfeeding Week, and all year long, CMMB is committed to helping more mothers give their babies the best nutrition possible.