Nourishing the Future: Honouring World Breastfeeding Week

A quiet moment of connection — where nourishment meets love. This World Breastfeeding Week, we honour the strength it takes to nurture the future, one feed at a time. 🤍

Breastfeeding is one of the most powerful ways to nourish a child — yet it’s also one of the most physically and emotionally demanding roles a mother can take on. While it often begins as an act of love and instinct, the breastfeeding journey quickly becomes one that calls for resilience, support, and self-awareness.

Each year, World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August) invites us to do more than just highlight the benefits of breastfeeding — it’s a timely reminder to uplift, honour, and empower the women who undertake this profound commitment. Because behind every thriving baby is a mum who also deserves to thrive — physically, emotionally, and mentally.

In this article, we explore the significance of breastfeeding through the lens of maternal wellness, reflect on the invisible load many mothers carry, and share how tools like MarisGraph and e7D-Wellness are helping mums feel more balanced, supported, and seen — one check-in at a time.

Why Breastfeeding Is About More Than Feeding

Breastfeeding offers a multitude of health benefits. For babies, breastmilk delivers ideal nutrition and antibodies that help protect against illness in those critical early months. It supports brain development, gut health, and builds emotional security through close, skin-to-skin contact.

For mothers, the benefits — although less often spoken about — are just as significant. Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size, can lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and promotes the release of calming hormones like oxytocin that support emotional bonding and wellbeing.

And yet, despite these benefits, breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Many new mums experience challenges such as painful latching, low milk supply, exhaustion, or emotional strain. These hurdles are real — and they can deeply affect a woman’s sense of confidence and mental health.

That’s why supporting maternal wellbeing during breastfeeding is not a bonus — it’s essential.

Breastfeeding is just one part of a much bigger journey — from stretch marks and sleepless nights to pumping sessions and quiet nursery moments. Each image tells a story of love, sacrifice, and the many ways mothers show up for their little ones.

The Emotional Load Mothers Carry

Looking after a newborn while breastfeeding can feel like a full-time job — one with no breaks, no clock-off, and minimal sleep. On top of feeding around the clock, many mums are also recovering physically from birth, navigating hormonal changes, and managing responsibilities at home or at work.

While breastfeeding is often described as “natural,” the truth is, it can be incredibly complex. And in the midst of that complexity, many mothers face silent struggles — like:

• The pressure to “get it right” from the start

• The guilt when things don’t go to plan

• The pressure to keep going, even through pain or exhaustion

• The loneliness that can come with caring 24/7

• The fear of judgement, especially in public or on social media

• The emotional fatigue of giving without always feeling replenished

  
  

These experiences are valid. And when they go unacknowledged, they can lead to deeper issues like burnout, anxiety, or postnatal depression.

That’s why early recognition of stress, and gentle tools that encourage self-reflection, can make all the difference — allowing mums to stay grounded and nurtured, even during demanding seasons.

How MarisGraph Supports Maternal Wellness

Support goes beyond the moment of feeding. At e7D-Wellness, tools like MarisGraph help mothers understand their evolving needs — because empowered care starts with deeper self-awareness. 🤍

At e7D-Wellness, we believe that wellness shouldn’t feel like another chore. For mothers who are constantly giving to others, support should be simple, gentle, and meaningful — never overwhelming.

The MarisGraph Wellness Assessment is a short yet powerful tool that offers a snapshot of a mother’s wellbeing across eight essential areas. These aren’t just about health in the traditional sense — they’re about how you feel, how you cope, and how connected you are to yourself:

1. Willpower – How strong is your inner drive and ability to make conscious choices?

2. Breathing – Are you breathing with awareness or holding tension throughout the day?

3. Hydration – Are you drinking enough water, especially when feeding or expressing?

4. Thoughts – Are your inner thoughts kind and constructive — or scattered and stressed?

5. Nutrition – Are you fuelling your body with enough nourishment to sustain you?

6. Movement – Are you making space for light movement or fresh air when possible?

7. Rest – Are you carving out moments for rest, even if it’s not full sleep?

8. Sexual Wellbeing – Do you feel safe, connected, and in tune with your body again?

Your personalised MarisGraph report gently highlights areas that may need extra care — not with blame, but with compassion and kindness. From there, you'll receive easy, actionable tips — because sometimes even one deep breath, a stretch, or a glass of water can shift your whole day.

💡 Start your wellness check-in here: 👉 https://www.e7doc.com/initial-assessment

Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish — It’s Foundational

When you're in the thick of early motherhood, the idea of "self-care" can feel distant or even unrealistic. But taking small steps to care for yourself isn’t about putting your needs above your baby’s — it’s about recognising that your wellness is central to your ability to give, care, and carry on.

Here are a few small but powerful ways to prioritise your wellbeing while breastfeeding:

• Keep water within reach – Hydration supports both milk supply and energy levels.

• Choose nourishing meals – Focus on iron-rich, protein-packed, and whole food snacks.

• Ask for support – Whether it’s help with laundry or a check-in from a friend, accept it.

• Pause and breathe – A mindful breath or a moment of stillness can reset your nervous system.

• Acknowledge the wins – Every feed, cuddle, and small triumph counts. Honour them.

By weaving in tiny habits of care, you gently remind yourself: you matter, too.

Words of affirmation can be powerful reminders — especially for mothers navigating the highs and lows of nurturing life. “Rest is productive.” “Never give up.” These aren’t just notes on a wall — they’re lifelines.

You Deserve to Feel Well, Too

World Breastfeeding Week shines a light on the value of nourishing future generations — but it also calls us to look inward. How are we nourishing ourselves as mothers, carers, and humans?

If you’re a breastfeeding mum, know this: your needs are real, valid, and worthy of attention. You are not “just the feeder.” You are a whole person — and your wellbeing is just as important as the baby you hold in your arms.

With the help of supportive tools like MarisGraph, you can gently tune back into your body, uncover what you need most, and make room for small acts of balance and care.

Start Your Wellness Check-In Today

🌿 Take the free MarisGraph Wellness Assessment and begin your personalised path to feeling more steady, grounded, and empowered.

Whether you’re breastfeeding for the first time, or walking alongside someone who is, this tool can help create more clarity, calm, and connection — one step at a time.

Your wellbeing is your greatest resource. Let’s honour it. MarisGraph:

Simplifying Wellness. Empowering You.