Austin Public Health Highlighting Free Breastfeeding Support and Resources for National Breastfeeding Month

AUSTIN, Texas — August is National Breastfeeding Month, and Austin Public Health is recognizing this by promoting the many benefits of breastfeeding and highlighting the free support services available to families throughout our community.  

Breastfeeding plays an essential role in promoting the health of infants and their mothers, especially when it is done for six months or longer. Infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of health conditions including asthma, obesity, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and more. It also lowers the mother’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. 

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, less than a quarter of all infants in Texas are exclusively breastfed through six months. 

Local support is available for mothers who are seeking help with breastfeeding. Austin Public Health’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) breastfeeding program, which received the USDA Breastfeeding Award of Excellence in recognition of its outstanding work promoting and supporting breastfeeding, offers specialized lactation support, peer counseling and Mom's Place Lactation Support Center, demonstrating how local investments help families achieve these positive outcomes.

Austin Public Health’s Maternal Infant Outreach Program (MIOP) has supported Black mothers and families since 2014, providing home visits, health education, peer support, resources, and connections to services that promote healthier pregnancies, births, and postpartum outcomes.

This National Breastfeeding Month, know where to go for help. Whether you're expecting a baby, breastfeeding for the first time, or looking for support along the way, WIC and Mom's Place Lactation Support Center are here to help you make informed feeding decisions. Connect with WIC, Mom's Place or MIOP to access free breastfeeding education, expert guidance and personalized support.

To further connect families with culturally relevant breastfeeding resources, Austin Public Health is hosting an event this month focused on education and support. The Maternal Infant Outreach Program’s Chocolate Milk Summit is a community-centered event held in recognition of Black Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 25–31, 2026. 

The summit aims to address stigma surrounding breastfeeding in the Black community, provide evidence-based education, connect families with local resources and promote positive health outcomes for mothers and babies. The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Roland C. Hays African American Cultural Center.

Austin Public Health by the numbers

• Over 93% of Austin Public Health WIC participants initiate breastfeeding, exceeding both state and national averages and reflecting the program's strong culture of breastfeeding support. 

• 60.6% of pregnant Texas WIC mothers reported learning about breastfeeding through WIC, demonstrating WIC's critical role as a trusted source of prenatal breastfeeding education and underscoring the program's role in helping families make informed infant feeding decisions.

• In 2026, MIOP has helped initiate breastfeeding or feeding pumped breast milk for 47% of their clients.

• Mom's Place Lactation Support Center has supported Central Texas families since 1994, providing expert lactation consultations, infant weight checks and breastfeeding education. 

• Austin Public Health WIC serves families through 13 clinic locations, including two Lactation Support Centers and a WIC Mobile Unit, making breastfeeding support accessible where families live, work and learn.