August is National Breastfeeding Month – a month dedicated to empowering women to commit to breastfeeding, to improve infant and child health. It was established by the United States Breastfeeding Committee back in 2011.
It’s an awesome month, usually full of activities to bring awareness to breastfeeding and to promote it as much as possible. It’s the month where lactation provider thrive!
In the midst of all the celebrations lies Black Breastfeeding Week. Now in it’s 8th year, it’s a week (the last week of August every year) designed to bring awareness to the unique issues that black mothers face when it comes to breastfeeding. And to increase the rates of breastfeeding in our population.
I’ve been asked before – why does it matter? Why does Black Breastfeeding Week have to exist? Why does it have to be set apart from everyone else?
There are a slew of reasons, many that I see every single day in my practice:
Black moms need the support
Statistics show that black moms are less likely to start breastfeeding. And even if we do start, we’re less likely to continue exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months (as recommended) and for our baby’s first year of life. This has many reasons behind it. The reasons I’ve seen personally are: No close family members or friends who have breastfed (no one to help or encourage). No access to lactation support to help with any issues that come up. No access to information about breastfeeding. Social assistance programs that push formula instead of encouraging breastfeeding.
Black moms & babies face health disparities
Black moms and babies are at higher risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma….and the list goes on. These are also diseases that can be prevented by breastfeeding. Yet, if we don’t have the support we need to get started and continue breastfeeding (#1 above), then our rates of these diseases will continue to rise.
Black babies have higher infant mortality
Black babies are more likely to be born premature, to have medical complications, and to die. The nutrition and immune protection that breast milk provides is so important for premature babies or those with complications. So it’s even more important that we encourage our black moms to breastfeed to keep our babies alive!
Black moms have different needs
Black women’s breasts are different. Our bodies our different. Our history, struggles, family dynamics, and work requirements are different than a lot of the women around us. All these factors (plus so many others) affect whether we breastfeed, and how long we breastfeed. This week is meant to highlight those differences, and to emphasize the fact that breastfeeding is still possible (and recommended!) in spite of it all.
To highlight the black breastfeeding moms out there
Many times, there are black breastfeeding moms among us that we don’t even know about. We have a picture in our minds that breastfeeding is just not something black moms do because we just don’t talk about it. This is a week for black moms to come out of hiding and proudly discuss their breastfeeding journeys, to encourage other black mamas to do the same!
If you still have questions about whether Black Breastfeeding Week is still necessary, or if you have any other personal reasons to add to this list, please feel free to leave a comment! I’d love to leave the discussion open and hear your thoughts.
Visit the Black Breastfeeding Week site to learn more about it’s history and current events.
Do what you can to support a black breastfeeding mom this week!
If you love these tips, be sure to check out my 75+ page digital library, filled with step-by-step instructions and the tools you need to learn the basics and adapt to life while breastfeeding, troubleshoot breastfeeding problems, go back to work while breastfeeding, wean – and so much more!
