Breastfeeding Month 2026

August is Breastfeeding Month

This August, Mothers’ Milk Bank California is proud to join the United States Breastfeeding Committee, in celebrating Breastfeeding Month and this year’s theme: RISE: Resilience, Interdependence, Self-Determination, and Empowerment.

Breastfeeding is about more than nourishment; it reflects the strength, dedication and determination parents demonstrate every day to give their babies the healthiest possible start. It is a journey built on support, community, and the belief that every family deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Throughout Breastfeeding Month, we honor the resilience of parents, the power of human milk, and the communities that help families achieve their feeding goals. Together, we celebrate the countless ways breastfeeding and donor human milk contribute to healthier beginnings for babies across California and beyond.

We invite families, advocates and community members to come together and celebrate the role breastfeeding plays in helping babies thrive. At the same time, we recognize that every family’s journey is different. While the World Health Organization recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life because of the unique nutritional and immune benefits human milk provides; some families face medical, physical or personal challenges that make breastfeeding difficult or impossible.

For families who need additional support, donor human milk can help bridge that gap. Mothers’ Milk Bank California has partnered with hospitals and community organizations across the state to expand access to safe, pasteurized donor human milk, especially for medically fragile and premature infants. When a parent donates extra breast milk, that gift can become a lifeline for a baby in need, providing critical nutrition during the earliest and most vulnerable stages of life.

If you have extra breast milk to share, we encourage you to consider becoming a milk donor. 

Every donation helps strengthen a network of support for families and provides critical nourishment to babies who need it most. Join a milk drive near you to celebrate Breastfeeding Month, connect with your local community and discover how donor human milk can make a lasting difference for babies and families across California and the rest of the US.