World Breastfeeding Week: No Parent Should Have to Do It Alone

It’s hard to really get it, unless you’ve been there.

"I felt like a cow, pumping every three hours. I was exhausted and emotional and it felt like something robotic instead of relational... not anything like how I pictured it would be," NICU mom Jenny shared.

Parents may be recovering from a difficult birth while learning to establish milk supply, navigate medical challenges, and support a baby who may not yet be able to feed at the breast. It is no surprise that many families find this journey difficult.

That's why the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 (August 1-7), Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems, is especially meaningful for families with babies in the NICU.

Supporting feeding in NICU depends on a "warm chain of support" that includes healthcare professionals, lactation consultants, peer supporters, family members, workplaces, and communities working together to help families reach their feeding goals.

As we recognize World Breastfeeding Week, CPBF also recognizes that every feeding journey is unique. Families may provide human milk through direct breastfeeding, pumping, tube feeding, bottle feeding, donor milk, or a combination of approaches. What matters most is ensuring families have access to evidence-based information, compassionate care, and the support they need to make informed decisions for their babies.

To mark World Breastfeeding Week, CPBF will be hosting a special edition of Preemie Chats focused on infant feeding, human milk, and the unique experiences of families with babies born prematurely.

Because when families are supported, babies benefit.

Does your NICU have plans for World Breastfeeding Week? Share stories and pictures with us – we love to see them and hear about all the incredible work you are all doing! Tag @canadianpreemies.

Watch for details about our World Breastfeeding Week Preemie Chats special