Why Black Breastfeeding Week is needed

Breast milk is a miracle food for babies. They provide the right mix of nutrients, are easily digested, and contain many antibodies to help babies fight infections. There are many benefits to breastfeeding for babies, toddlers, and mothers – and human milk can make a huge difference in the growth and development of premature babies.

But not all children are happy to receive their mother’s milk in the same way. In the United States, 86.1% of children start breastfeeding, 62.8% are still breastfeeding at 6 months, and 40.8% are breastfeeding at one year. Rates are much lower for black babies.

The disparity in breastfeeding paints a similarly grim picture of women’s health in the United States — and how it hurts black families the most. The US has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.

Additionally, black babies are more likely to be born prematurely. The death rate of black infants in America is more than twice that of white infants.

What is Black Breastfeeding Week?

In 2012, three maternal and infant health activists – Kiddada Green, Kimberly Seals Allers, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka – created Black Breastfeeding Week. Taking place from August 25 to 31, it aims to develop, promote, and support black breastfeeding.

The goal is to highlight the differences in breastfeeding and reduce barriers to breastfeeding among women of color. In particular, the founders want to raise awareness of five issues related to breastfeeding in the Black community:

• High mortality rate among black infants. According to the founder of Black Breastfeeding Week, Kimberly Seals Allers, “The high mortality rate of black babies is mainly due to their being born too small, too sick, or too soon. These babies need the safety and health of breast milk the most.”

• Prevalence of diet-related illnesses among black children. “From upper respiratory infections and Type II diabetes to asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and childhood obesity – these issues are becoming more common in our communities. And breast milk is the best medicine to protect the environment,” Allers says.

• Lack of diversity in the field of lactation. “Many … breastfeeding professionals, while well-intentioned, are not culturally aware, sensitive, or qualified to deal with American women,” says Allers.

• Specific cultural barriers to breastfeeding. “Black women also have unique cultural barriers and a difficult history related to breastfeeding,” Allers says, citing the history of black women who were enslaved in the US being forced to wet nurses for enslaved babies.

• Lack of breastfeeding support. “It’s not fair to ask a woman, any woman, to breastfeed when she’s living in an underserved community,” says Allers. “It’s a setup for failure.”

Importance of Black Breastfeeding Week

These numbers show the importance of Black Breastfeeding Week:

• Black women have the lowest rate of initiation of breastfeeding (79.4%), and continuation at six months (55.3%) and 12 months (31.6%), compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

• Black women are six times more likely to be given sour milk in the hospital than white women.

• Black women are less likely to breastfeed prematurely, before birth and after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The main barriers to breastfeeding, according to a report published in Maternal & Child Nutrition, are:

• Problems with breastfeeding, breastfeeding, and pumping

• Concerns about the baby’s diet and weight

• Worrying about taking medicine while breastfeeding

• Non-working policies and lack of parental leave

• Cultural norms and lack of family support

• Practices and ineffective medical procedures

Reasons cited for the decline in breastfeeding among black women include:

• Lack of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support in hospitals serving predominantly black populations. Hospital staff do not encourage breastfeeding and often provide formula.

• Jobs that don’t allow time for breastfeeding or pumping. Black women often return to work and are more likely to find jobs that do not support breastfeeding.

• Lack of local mammals that reflect their habitats.

• Additional barriers to breastfeeding, including transportation issues and the lack of high quality breast pumps.

Finding support as a black breastfeeding mother

Social media and individual support groups can provide important support, especially for black women who are breastfeeding. These organizations offer many resources to help black families achieve their breastfeeding goals:

Black Mothers Breastfeeding Organization: The BMBFA Facebook page is a great resource for breastfeeding education and the community. It is one of the few organizations that is completely dedicated to helping black women and nursing. They also offer conferences and virtual events throughout the year.

Kindred Space LA: Founded by two black midwives, Allegra Hill and Kimberley Durdin, this birth center is located in Los Angeles, CA. It’s a great resource to follow on Instagram for breastfeeding support. They offer free and affordable classes, such as Babies-in-Arms – which addresses feeding and parenting questions – and Breastfeeding in Love.

La Leche League: La Leche League is one of the oldest breastfeeding advocacy groups in the US. La Leche League offers private Facebook groups in English and Spanish to help women with their breastfeeding goals, from getting the perfect latch to weaning.

WIC Center location: Your local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office is a good place to get breastfeeding support, even if you are not eligible for health and nutrition services. Many WIC programs offer breastfeeding support, including low-cost or free hotlines, real-time counseling, classes, and more.