09/05/2026
Every year in the first week of September, Workplace Lactation Week is celebrated. This year’s theme is “A World of Support: Creating Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplaces Everywhere.” At WIC, we support working moms by providing breast pumps, peer counselors and lactation experts, nutritious food, and personalized support to fit your needs.
🔗 Did you know you have legal breastfeeding protections at work, in public, and more? You deserve to feed your baby with confidence, wherever you are! Learn more about your breastfeeding rights: https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/your-breastfeeding... Workplace Lactation Week
Pacifying on your breast is a valid reason to breastfeed. You don’t have to use a pacifier. It’s normal, natural, ok, and developmentally appropriate. There are also many benefits to comfort nursing.
Suckling releases the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) which gives a sleepy feeling. The cool part is that it’s not just our babies who experience this, but us too! This is why when our baby suckles at our breast and they swiftly fall asleep, often so do we. Suckling at the breast also releases oxytocin, the love hormone, which helps with bonding and creates that desire to nurture your child's feelings.
Pacifying at the breast helps babies with mouth and jaw development, unlike pacifiers or dummies, which actually can do the opposite. Furthermore, there’s no scientific evidence showing comfort feeding has long-term negative effects (And that’s because it doesn’t. We’ve been comfort nursing since the beginning of time).
At night breastmilk contains higher amounts of nucleotides and amino acids which help babies regulate their circadian rhythms. If breastfeeding at night and comfort nursing has all these benefits why are mothers consistently pressured to night wean or to not allow baby to “use them as a pacifier”? 🤔
Bottom line, if comfort feeding works for you and your family, there are 0 reasons to stop. It will not create a bad habit and it’s biologically normal.
Also, this is not a pacifier shaming post, so please refrain from claiming that. There’s nothing wrong with using one. I wish I didn’t even need to mention this but…. If it doesn’t apply - then let it fly ✌️
Follow Milkitivity on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/milkitivity_/
https://milkitivity.com/yes-your-baby-is-using-you-as-a-pacifier/