The Importance of Breastfeeding

Guest Author: Michelle Tant, Senior Midwife at University of Brighton

Reviewed by: Gerald Cheruiyot, Sarah Anderson

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), running from 1-7 August 2026, is a global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in partnership with WHO and UNICEF, aimed at promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding worldwide. In 2026, the theme, “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works”,  emphasises building long-term, equitable support structures for breastfeeding mothers, moving beyond short-term encouragement to systemic change (WABA 2026). 

The importance of breastfeeding extends far beyond the multitude of physiological benefits it affords to both the breastfeeding mother and baby. It extends to the psychological, emotional, and relational realms, establishing it as a truly holistic and scientifically based phenomenon with benefits not only for the breastfeeding dyad but also for wider society. Most women, with support, can breastfeed, and breast milk is unique to each woman, reflecting the baby's changing needs. Your diet has little-known impact on breastmilk composition but can affect the taste. 

The benefits of breastfeeding are well documented and begin with even a single feed. Breastmilk provides immunological support in the form of immunoglobulins and human milk oligosaccharides, as well as short-chain fatty acids that act as prebiotics (David et al., 2022). They build a healthy gut microbiome and act to form a protective intestinal barrier. Furthermore, they activate the digestive system, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption.  

When combined with skin-to-skin at birth and regularly within the early postnatal period, a powerful biological loop is formed whereby the newborn's skin is colonised with healthy, protective bacteria. During breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, the hormones oxytocin and prolactin are released, reducing stress and helping establish a robust milk supply. When women are well supported in the breastfeeding experience, it is known to lower the risk of postnatal depression and anxiety, as cortisol can be inhibited by oxytocin. For the baby, when oxytocin rises in response to suckling at the breast, a pathway to secure attachment is established, along with all the associated benefits as the child grows (Modak et al., 2023). 

The breastfed baby is at a lower risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, type one diabetes and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding mothers suffer lower rates of ovarian and breast cancers, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In this respect, breastfeeding support can be seen as an investment in global health, with the imperative appearing particularly stark when expressed in economic terms. It is estimated that the global economic cost of suboptimal breastfeeding is in excess of 340 billion dollars due to treatment costs and the premature death of women and babies (Jegier et al, 2024). 

Despite the evidence, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low in many countries, with some countries failing to adequately fund breastfeeding support strategies or put into place policies which protect breastfeeding. A global effort tackling the systemic barriers to breastfeeding is required for meaningful change. This includes implementing the UNICEF Ten Steps in all maternity settings through comprehensive training for health professionals and community schemes, and limiting the aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes (UNICEF, 2025). 

Here at NNEdPro, we support a positive approach to breastfeeding and infant nutrition, and our partner journal, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, has a special collection “Nutrition and Women’s Health”. 

References 

Davis, E.C., Castagna, V.P., Sela, D.A., Hillard, M.A., Lindberg, S., Mantis, N.J., Seppo, A.E. and Järvinen, K.M. (2022) ‘Gut Microbiome and Breast-feeding: Implications for Early Immune Regulation’, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 150(3), pp. 523–534. 

Jegier, B.J., Smith, J.P. and Bartick, M.C. (2024) ‘The economic cost consequences of suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices: a scoping review’, Health policy and planning, 39(9), pp. 916–945. 

Modak, A., Ronghe, V. and Gomase, K.P. (2023) ‘The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development’, Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), 15(10), p. e46730. [online] Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10631302/ [Accessed 1 July 2026] 

UNICEF. (2025) Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, 2025. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). [online] Available at: https://www.globalbreastfeedingcollective.org/documents/global-breastfeeding-scorecard-2025 [accessed 1 July 2026]  

WABA  (2026) World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) - World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (accessed 1 July 2026)