National Breastfeeding Month 2026 focuses on support and inclusivity

National Breastfeeding Month 2026 focuses on the theme ‘RISE’, which stands for resilience, interdependence, self-determination, and empowerment. The campaign aims to improve support for parents and infants by addressing societal barriers to breastfeeding.

Key challenges identified include limited access to lactation support, insufficient parental leave, lack of private pumping spaces, and pressure to return to work early. The initiative emphasizes that breastfeeding success depends on community support from families, healthcare providers, and employers rather than just individual motivation.

In Maine, the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition has adopted inclusive terminology for the month, using terms such as ‘trans lactation’ and ‘chestfeeding’ to include transgender parents and Two-Spirit families. This approach aligns with other organizations like La Leche League USA, which also provides support for ‘breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding’ to reflect diverse parental identities.