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Breastfeeding provides the ultimate in nutrition to infants and offers up a bounty of health benefits to both baby and mother. Each August, mothers are empowered, informed, and celebrated during National Breastfeeding Month.
However, there are racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding.
Black Breastfeeding Week began as a way to address and explore those disparities and help close those gaps. Closing the gap is important because breastfeeding can improve a woman’s overall long-term health. Mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of certain cancers and lower rates of osteoporosis as they age. This year, Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25-31. Here are the reasons this week is important, and how you can support and participate.
What is Black Breastfeeding Week?
Black Breastfeeding Week, now in its eight year, is held the last week of August during National Breastfeeding Month and was founded by Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka to promote breastfeeding in the Black community. Their goal is to empower Black mothers to breastfeed and connect them to resources and tools for continued breastfeeding success.
“Black Breastfeeding Week is an important time for us to really celebrate what Black breastfeeding means,” Kimberly Seals Allers told Forbes Magazine. “We really talk about Black breastfeeding as social justice, as a way of reclaiming the narrative about Black women not being good mothers. It is all about lifting up those stories.”
Why we need a Black Breastfeeding Week
1. Breastfeeding closes the health disparities gap.
The founders of Black Breastfeeding Week cite concerns like the high Black infant mortality rate, higher rates of diet-related disease, and lack of access to healthful foods and resources in Black communities as to why Black Breastfeeding Week is necessary. The organization works to further encourage and empower Black women to initiate breastfeeding at birth and continue for the health of both mom and baby.
2. Breastfeeding support is lacking in Black communities.
In a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 85 percent of white mothers in the United States breastfeed their babies at birth, however, just 69 percent of Black mothers opted to breastfeed at birth. Previous studies from the CDC also indicate that in hospitals that serve larger Black populations, breastfeeding support is lacking. Black women often head back to work sooner after childbirth than their white counterparts. This has caused significant health, emotional and economic disparities between the two groups.
3. Breastfeeding in the Black community declined in the seventies.
As a result of marketing that promoted formula use targeted toward Black communities, breastfeeding saw a sharp decline during those years. This decline led to diminished health of Black babies and an increase in mortality rate. The theme for Black Breastfeeding Week this year is, “Revive. Restore. Reclaim!” The aim now is to revive, restore, and reclaim breastfeeding as normal and natural and embraced in the Black community.
Breastfeeding mom Alexandra pointed out the financial benefits of breastfeeding. “One thing that made breastfeeding more manageable for me was realizing the cost of purchasing store-bought milk,” the mother of two said in an interview on HeyTaeMama. “Even after splurging on the latest and greatest Medela pump, pumping my own milk was still cheaper than buying store-bought milk. Due to breastfeeding, I saved hundreds of dollars and ultimately it was best for my baby and me.”
How to get involved in Black Breastfeeding Week and find support
Here are ways you can get involved in Black Breastfeeding Week and find support throughout the year.
4. Digital summits and live presentations on Instagram and Facebook can help you stay informed.
As a result of COVID-19 concerns, all festivities and events this year will be held virtually. Over the course of the week, check out the online schedule and support the efforts to normalize breastfeeding in the Black community. Participants can follow the hashtag #BBW20 across social media to stay informed.
5. Locate a Black Doula near you for information and support.
The National Black Doulas Association’s goal is to help fight the Black Maternal Mortality rate by connecting Black mothers with Black doulas who can offer support, education, and a sense of empowerment around all things childbirth, breastfeeding, and motherhood related. The organization is also a helpful resource for those interested in learning more about how to become a Doula.
6. Your local La Leche League Group can provide valuable resources.
La Leche League helps mothers breastfeed by offering one-on-one support ongoing education and encouragement. La Leche provides resources to help mothers understand the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and child. Locate a La Leche Group near you for information on additional resources, and meeting locations.
