THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SUPPORT

SUPPORT for breastfeeding illustrate the potential influences on a mother's decision to breastfeed and to have a positive breastfeeding experience. Previously featured during World Breastfeeding Week 2008, the Circles of Support continue to be a vital foundation for mothers to breastfeed their babies, and more. The CIRCLES OF SUPPORT are: Family and Social Network, Healthcare, Workplace and Employment, Government/ Legislation and Response to Crisis or Emergency, all surrounding women in the center circle.

WOMEN IN THE CENTER CIRCLE:
Women are in the center because the presence or absence of support impacts them directly. Women also have an important role in securing support and in providing it to others. Within the Global Initiative for Mother Support (GIMS) for Breastfeeding Statement (2007) we noted, 'Mothers are considered active participants in the support dynamic, being both providers and recipients of information and support'. See: http://www.waba.org.my/whatwedo/gims/gims+5.htm

FAMILY AND SOCIAL NETWORK:
Husbands/partners/fathers, family and friends compose the mother's immediate and continuous support network. Social support includes community support - at the market place, within a religious context, at a neighbourhood park, etc. Support during pregnancy reduces stress. Support during labour and birth empowers the mother. Societal support increases the mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed beyond the early weeks and months.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS:
This includes a multitude of opportunities to support breast feeding. These opportunities range from mother friendly prenatal care and supportive labor and delivery services to postpartum and postnatal care that facilitates bonding and optimal infant feeding. Health workers trained in counseling skills support mothers before and after birth.

WORKPLACE AND EMPLOYMENT:
Employed women face challenges and need support to succeed at working and breastfeeding. The opportunities for mother support are as varied as the work women do, but usually involve facilitating mother-baby contact or expression and storage of breast milk.

GOVERNMENT/LEGISLATION:
Women who plan to breastfeed or who are already breastfeeding benefit from the support of international documents, protections for optimal infant feeding, plus active and well funded national commissions. Legislation that combats aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes and enacts paid maternity leave also benefits breastfeeding women.

RESPONSE TO CRISIS OR EMERGENCY:
This CIRCLE OF SUPPORT represents the need for support IF a woman finds herself in an unexpected and / or serious situation, with little control. Situations that require special planning and support are: natural disasters, refugee camps, divorce proceedings, critical illness of mother or baby, or living in an area of high HIV/AIDS prevalence with no support for breastfeeding.

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Greetings from the WABA Secretariat!

We would like to thank all WBW celebrants from well over 170 countries who celebrated the WBW 2012 so successfully! We received 290 pledges for events taking place globally, involving more than 107,990 celebrants by end 2012 - a number which might increase as reports continue to come in!
A Hearty Congratulations to Everyone Involved!

WABA is now pleased to announce and encourage your involvement in WBW 2013, with the theme, 'BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT: CLOSE TO MOTHERS", which focuses on Peer Counselling.

The focus/theme on Peer Counselling was proposed and mooted at the WABA Global Breastfeeding Partners Meeting of 2010, with great support from the network. The slogan and content were further discussed and decided on at the WABA Global Breastfeeding Partners Meeting (GBPM) held in Delhi, 5-6 December 2012. WABA's Mother Support Task Force coordination, led by Anne Batterjee, has been appointed as 'Key Writer' for the WBW 2013 Calendar Announcement and Action Folder etc, working with small team of WABA SC members, and Core Partner representatives.

As Anne notes: "Fifty six years ago, seven breastfeeding mothers came together and realized that their abilities to breastfeed their own infants came from being provided with information, education and emotional support from each other. That so many other mothers who longed to breastfeed could be enabled to do so if only those around them, their Peers, had the knowledge and skills to be supportive. La Leche League International was launched, and Mother to Mother support was born... Women's social networks have major impact on their health related decisions. Women are often drawn to other women with whom they share life experiences, especially when those experiences relate to parenting. When new mothers have someone who can understand and identify with their experiences, they can better enjoy and cope with parenthood. A peer counselor is an invaluable partner with mothers in their journey through parenthood, helping them gain confidence in their ability to breastfeed. Peer Counselors model the idea of seeking information from others, which will help moms realize that the breastfeeding journey is a learning process for us all...".

Once again WABA has created a special Website to coordinate and link people on the theme. This website is a one stop centre where you will be able to download WBW 2013 materials such as the Calendar Announcement, The Action Folder, related Poster, translations of these materials, as well as join in our annual Photo Contest etc. We hope that all celebrants will utilise this site and make their pledges for their events so that we will be able to share these activities with the world!

We look forward to collaborating with you to make World Breastfeeding Week 2013 a great success.

In Solidarity
Jennifer Mourin
WBW Global Coordinator

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