By Katie Freeman (Chief Clinical Officer)
World Breastfeeding Week runs between 1st—7th August. This year’s theme is Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works with a focus on nutrition, food security and poverty reduction. These are all-important focuses when we think about suicide prevention too.
Breastfeeding can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly difficult and physically demanding. Pain, feeding challenges, sleep deprivation, isolation and unrealistic exceptions can all impact emotional wellbeing. For me, suicide prevention and breastfeeding support are not separate conversations. I believe one of the most important support systems we can build upon is the connection between infant feeding support and maternal mental health.
Maternal suicides have remained the leading cause of maternal death occurring between six weeks and one year after the end of pregnancy. For some people, breastfeeding challenges go beyond physical discomfort, it can contribute to feelings of grief, guilt, inadequacy and isolation. This highlights the importance of recognising emotional distress alongside physical health. Breastfeeding support is an opportunity to connect in this time, especially in the first weeks of the postnatal period and every interaction is an opportunity to reduce isolation and increase hope.
A sustainable start in life means creating healthy systems that are resilient, connected, inclusive and responsive to the needs of every family. Parents become more empowered to make informed decisions when they know their emotional wellbeing matters too. This foundation is not built on breastfeeding alone; it is built by communities that understand that nurturing babies also means nurturing those who care for them. When parents are supported, babies flourish and when we strengthen what works, we create healthy futures for everyone.
Every parent should have access to compassionate, evidence-based infant feeding help, whatever feeding journey they take. Breastfeeding support can be accessed through your midwife and health visitor. You can also seek support from other professional organisations, a few of which are listed below:
NHS Breastfeeding Help and Support
Breastfeeding Network
La Leche League
National Breastfeeding Helpline
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References:
https://waba.org.my/wbw/
https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2022-2024
