World Breastfeeding Week 2025
- ONWA
- Jul 31
- 8 min read
We are honouring Indigenous women and the sacred act of nourishing our children.
ONWA is celebrating and honouring the sacred act of nourishing our children. Throughout World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2025), we will be sharing cultural teachings, breastfeeding resources, and video that uplift and empower.
Highlights (click to jump to section):
Free Print-ables!
Download and print these free assets:
Breastfeeding Affirmation Deck
Word Search
Cross Word
Colouring Page
Video Resources
Fun Facts
✨ Historically in Indigenous communities, breastfeeding was a shared responsibility. If a mother couldn’t nurse or had any other issues, aunties, kokums, or other members of the community stepped in to feed and nurture the baby.
This was true community care in action.
🥦 Did you know your breastmilk changes flavour based on what you eat? Eating a variety of foods and exposing baby to different flavors during breastfeeding can help them to be less picky as they grow!
Breastfeeding is nutrition, bonding, and cultural tradition.
💡 Your breastmilk changes to meet your baby’s needs – not just weekly, but even within a single feeding.
Mothers of premature babies produce milk with more protein, fat, and other minerals to support early development. Our bodies are incredible.
Benefits to Breastfeeding
Benefits to Mom
Faster recovery
Reduced cancer risk
Emotional bonding
Hormonal balance
Lower risk of postpartum depression
Huge cost savings
Breastfeeding moms often lose weight without additional exercise as breastfeeding can burn 500-600 calories a day.
Breastfeeding releases the prolactin and oxytocin hormones that help mom and baby to bond, and ease feelings of stress.
Mothers who breastfeed are at a lower risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and postpartum depression. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the more protection she has.
Breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to feed your baby and to help you save money!
Benefits to Baby
Better teeth
Lower risk of infections, asthma, diabetes & more
Emotional bonding
Babies who are breastfed are at a lower risk of cavities later in life, and it may lower the change they will need braces.
Babies who are breastfed are at a lower risk for ear infections, respiratory infections, stomach problems and diarrhea.
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of asthma, diabetes and childhood obesity.
Antibodies and live white blood cells that help your baby fight against infection are present in breast milk. When mom or baby are sick, the amount of these cells in your breast milk increases.
Self-Care Tips for Mom
Moms need care too ✨ During your breastfeeding journey, although you are your babies' main source of nutrition, you need to ensure you are taking care of yourself as well.
Ways to care for yourself:
Stay Hydrated – drink plenty of fluids but try to limit sugary drinks!
Eat in a Balanced Way – ensure you are choosing healthy food choices when you are able.
Move Your Body – relieve stress through physical activity. Your body makes endorphins (the happy chemical) before and after you exercise.
Rest When You Can – It is easier said than done with a newborn, but try to sleep as much as possible to help your body recover.
Build a Support System – reach out to family, a friend or a worker to provide helpful advice or support.
Take Time For Yourself – take time for yourself to go for a walk, have lunch with a friend or just nap while a trusted person watches your baby for a bit.
Positions for Breastfeeding
🤱 Cross Cradle Hold: Offers stability and control for newborns. Great for learning to latch.
🌿 Laid Back (Reclined) Position: Supports natural breastfeeding instincts. Comfortable and intuitive.
💞 Cradle Hold: A classic for a reason! A gentle and familiar way to bond with your baby. Simple and effective.
🏈 Football Hold: Perfect for moms with twins, C-section recovery, or small babies. Baby is tucked beside you.
Use of Traditional Medicines
Stinging Nettle (Tea/Infusion from leaves)
Beneficial for use before and during pregnancy.
High in Vitamins A, C, D, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron and Sulphur.
Increases richness and amount of breastmilk.
Harvest: When harvesting stinging nettle, wear gloves due to stinging hair along the stems. Make sure to harvest in the late spring/early summer. They are commonly found near streams/banks.
Raspberry Leaf (Tea/Infusion from leaves)
Can drink before and during pregnancy.
Assists in the production of breastmilk.
Raspberries act as blood tonic and are high in vitamins A, C, B, E, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron and Phosphorus.
Harvest: They are typically found in woodland clearings. The top first year leaf growth are the best to use. Harvest in the spring/early summer before the berries start to form.
Wild Mint (Tea and/or wash from leaves)
Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic.
Aids in muscle and menstrual cramps, as well as lowers fevers.
Cold tea can be used as a compress to help with aches, pains, arthritis, mastitis and fevers.
Harvest: Wild mint is found along banks of water (lakes, rivers etc.) and can also be found in meadows. Harvest throughout the summer to early fall.
Cedar (Smudge, bath, wash, and spray from leaves and stems *do not ingest while pregnant*)
Protective and removes negativity.
Supports healing from past traumas and grief.
Detoxifying and high in vitamin C.
Harvest: Can be harvested all year long. Make sure to clean cut with scissors/snippers to avoid exposing the tree to infection. They are typically found in wooded areas near water.
Safe Breastmilk Storage & Tips
How to Safely Store Breast Milk
Keep milk at room temperature. Breastmilk is OK for up to 4 hours after pumping at room temperature (up to 77°F).
Refrigerate it. Breastmilk is OK in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Place milk in the freezer. If you're not going to use refrigerated breastmilk within 4 days of pumping, freeze it right after pumping.
Use cooler packs. You can put breastmilk in a cooler or insulated cooler pack with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours after pumping. After 24 hours in a cooler the breastmilk should be refrigerated or frozen.
What to use:
When storing breastmilk, use breastmilk storage bags, which are made for freezing human milk. You can also use clean glass or hard BPA-free plastic bottles with tight-fitting lids. Do not use Do not use disposable bottle liners or other plastic bags to store breastmilk.
Tips for Freezing Milk
Clearly label milk containers with the date the milk was expressed. Include your child's name if you are giving the milk to a childcare provider.
Freeze in small amounts (2 to 4 ounces, or ¼ to ½ cups) for later feedings.
Leave an inch or so from the milk to the top of the container, because it will get bigger when freezing.
Store milk in the back of the freezer, not on the shelf of the freezer door, so that it doesn't start to thaw out.
Do not refreeze breastmilk after it has been thawed.
Tips for Thawing/ Warming Breast Milk
Thaw the oldest breastmilk first.
Thaw the bottle or bag of frozen milk by putting it in the refrigerator overnight.
If you decide to warm the breastmilk: Hold it under warm, not hot, running water, or set it in a container of water that is warm, not hot.
Never put a bottle or bag of breastmilk in the microwave. Microwaving creates hot spots that could burn your baby and damage the milk.
Test the temperature before feeding it to your baby by dropping some on your wrist. The milk should feel warm, not hot.
Use breastmilk within 24 hours of thawing it in the refrigerator.
Once breastmilk is thawed, use it within 2 hours. If you have any leftover milk, be sure to throw it out within 2 hours.
Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
Soon after your baby's birth, your nipples may be sensitive or tender as they adjust to breastfeeding. Here are some causes of nipple pain and solutions.
Baby's latch and positioning
Improper latch-on occurs when baby does not grasp enough breast tissue or his tongue is positioned improperly, causing pain and discomfort.
If it feels painful, you can unlatch your baby by slipping a finger in the corner of her mouth to break the suction. Then you can try latching again. Try improving the latch by bringing your baby’s chin deeply onto your breast. Or you could gently pull down on the baby’s chin to uncurl the lower lip.
Fungal Infection
If your nipple itches, burns, cracks, or is pink or flaky, or you have shooting pain deep in your breast between feedings, you may have a fungal (yeast) infection called thrush. This infection can also cause white spots on your baby's cheeks, tongue, and gums.
If you think you have thrush, use only water to rinse your nipples after nursing. Then see your doctor or your baby's doctor right away. Both you and your baby will need to be treated for thrush with antibiotics.
Milk Blister
A milk blister, or bleb, is a smooth, shiny, white dot on your nipple.
Warm washcloth compresses, massaging and expressing some milk may help relieve it. If the blister doesn't go away, contact your doctor or midwife.
Sore, cracked, or bleeding nipples
It is normal for your breasts to become more sensitive in the first weeks after you have given birth. They may sting, burn, ache, or feel tender. Over time, the discomfort and sensitivity should resolve.
Lanolin Ointment: Apply to nipples after breast-feeding. It doesn’t need to be removed before nursing your baby.
Nipple Shield: Wearing a shield could help your nipples heal and allow continued breastfeeding.
Warm Compress: Applying a warm compress (towel or washcloth) will aid to reduce breast pain and will also help to reduce nipple pain or swelling.
Mastitis
What is “mastitis?”
Mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection. The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. People experiencing mastitis may also have fever and chills. Mastitis most commonly affects people who are breast-feeding (lactation mastitis).
Mastitis in breastfeeding usually happens when a clogged milk duct doesn't let milk fully drain from the breast or breaks in the skin of the nipple.
Symptoms
Engorgement
Breast pain (mastalgia) or burning sensation that worsens when your baby nurses.
Hard lumps on your breast.
Red marks on your breast.
Flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills if mastitis infection occurs.
*It’s important when breastfeeding to allow both breasts to express milk
At-home treatment for inflammatory mastitis includes
Ice: Use an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables to reduce swelling while laying on your back so the swelling drains into your lymph nodes. You shouldn’t apply heat.
Pain relievers: Using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
Lymphatic drainage: Lymphatic drainage involves gentle, light “petting of a cat” pressure of your breast toward your lymph nodes above your collar bones and in your armpit. It reduces swelling by moving fluid. This isn’t as strong of pressure as a massage.
Reverse pressure softening (RPS): This type of massage reduces swelling in your areola and nipple by moving the fluid away from it. It allows your baby to latch more easily to a full breast. To perform RPS, place two fingertips around the base of your nipple. Apply pressure, then drag your fingers away from your nipple. Do this at several angles around your nipple.
Wear a supportive bra: A supportive bra isn’t tight-fitting and doesn’t put more pressure on your breasts.
DO NOT
Aggressively massage your breast.
Use any type of massaging device on your breast.
Soak your breast in anything.
Apply heat.
*Consult your healthcare practitioner if you believe you are experiencing symptoms.
Resources for Lactation Support
In Thunder Bay
Ontario Native Women’s Association's Indigenous Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program: 1-800-667-0816
Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Lactation Consultants: 807-625-5900
Maternity Centre's Lactation Consultants: 807-684-6228
In Ontario
Bilingual 24/7 Breastfeeding Support: https://ontariobreastfeeds.ca
Ontario Government Breastfeeding Page: https://www.ontario.ca/page/breastfeeding
Lactation Clinic: https://lactationclinic.com/
Telehealth - 24 hour breastfeeding/chestfeeding support - 1-866-797-0000 or TTY 1-866-797-0007
Most midwives, family doctors and nurse practitioners are also able to assist you with your breastfeeding journey!