National Breastfeeding Promotion Week

The dates of the event are symbolic—it begins on Mother’s Day and concludes on Children’s Day. Throughout this week, numerous webinars, workshops, consultations, and educational initiatives are organized across Poland to promote and support breastfeeding.

Human milk is the most suitable food for a newborn infant. It provides all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for proper growth and development, while also containing a wide range of biologically active components, such as antibodies, hormones, and enzymes.

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), and Polish experts, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should then continue alongside the introduction of complementary foods until the age of two years or beyond.

Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but also the mother. It supports postpartum recovery and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. At the same time, breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mother and child and contributes to the child’s cognitive development.

Despite its numerous health benefits for both mother and infant, breastfeeding in Poland is often discontinued relatively early, frequently before the child reaches six months of age. The National Breastfeeding Promotion Week provides an opportunity to raise public awareness, dispel common myths about breastfeeding, and strengthen support systems for parents.

It is also an important reminder that breastfeeding is not only a method of infant feeding but also a key element of disease prevention and an investment in the health and well-being of future generations.