The La Leche League is sponsoring World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) from August 1 to August 7, 2008. During this week of observance and awareness, the La Leche League (LLL) calls for greater support for mothers in achieving the gold standard of breastfeeding exclusively for six months, and providing appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.

The La Leche League’s mission is to help mothers worldwide breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Breastfeeding has many important physical and psychological advantages for both the baby and the mother. For infants, breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition, it is protective against infant illnesses and deaths, and it is easier to digest than formula. For mothers, breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, it burns extra calories and makes it easier to lose extra weight, and helps the mother bond with her baby.