DENVER – AUGUST 2025 – August 2025 is officially Colorado Breastfeeding Month, thanks to a proclamation from Governor Jared Polis. This designation aligns with National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, celebrated nationwide during August.
The proclamation for Colorado Breastfeeding Month highlights the significant health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, recognizing the important role human milk plays in creating “a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.” Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies that protect infants from infections and diseases, promotes healthy growth and development, and strengthens the bond between parent and child. For breastfeeding parents, it can also reduce the risk of certain cancers, improve postpartum recovery, and contribute to overall well-being.
In the proclamation, Governor Polis emphasizes the “consistent and well-documented health, economic, and environmental benefits of human milk feedings” and recognizes the importance of “equitably address[ing] the needs of lactating and non-lactating parents and the providers that serve them.”
In addition to promoting breastfeeding, Colorado Breastfeeding Month is a time to emphasize the importance of milk donation. The benefits of human milk are well-established, though not all parents are able to breastfeed, at least not right away. Donor milk provides critical support for their babies, especially those born prematurely or with serious health complications.
Mothers’ Milk Bank, an Arvada-based nonprofit organization, works with breastfeeding parents with excess milk, collects and safely pasteurizes that milk, and distributes it to hospitals across Colorado and beyond. Donating milk to Mothers’ Milk Bank is a powerful way for lactating parents to give back to their community, both saving the lives of the most vulnerable babies and offering critical emotional relief to other new parents.
“Donating milk truly makes a life-saving difference,” says Rebecca Heinrich, Director of Mothers’ Milk Bank. “Right now, the need for donor milk is growing, and we’re calling on our community to help us meet the need. If you’re a new parent with extra milk, this is a powerful way to give back, and Colorado Breastfeeding Month is the perfect time to start.”
To donate milk, interested parents can contact Mothers’ Milk Bank at 303-869-1888 or visit milkbankcolorado.org.
New parents looking for resources on breastfeeding can visit The Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition’s website at www.cobfc.org. The Coalition collaborates with healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations like Mothers’ Milk Bank to help create a breastfeeding-friendly environment in the State of Colorado, ensuring parents have the support and education they need.
“We’re excited and grateful that Governor Polis declared August as Colorado Breastfeeding Month for the second year in a row,” said Katie Halverstadt, RN, IBCLC, and Chair of the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition. “Breastfeeding plays such an important role in public health, and this recognition is a meaningful step towards building more awareness, support, and celebration of breastfeeding families here in Colorado.”