As both a Black mother and a Black international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), I’ve both experienced the struggles and supported those who have experienced the struggles associated with being a Black breastfeeding mother. In addition to common issues like latching difficulty, clogged ducts, supply issues, and pumping at work, Black breastfeeding mothers also have to deal with racial disparities that lead to lower breastfeeding rates within the Black community.
I recall being a new mother, determined to breastfeed my newborn. We struggled to latch, and I would grimace in pain with each nursing session and wonder if my baby was getting enough milk. Concerned, I consulted with my healthcare provider who told me to “just give formula”.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula, it’s not what I wanted for my journey. I wanted to breastfeed. I felt defeated and, little did I know, I was just another statistic. One study shows that Black infants are nine times more likely than any other race to be offered formula in the hospital.
How much more confident would I have been had my healthcare provider referred me to a lactation consultant instead of dismissing my concerns?
It’s a common myth that Black women don’t breastfeed. We do, we want to, we just need the education and support to do so. A study published in Breastfeeding Medicine indicated that hospitals located in areas with a higher percentage of Black residents were less likely to provide adequate breastfeeding support.
I took it upon myself to educate myself and find out ways to have a successful breastfeeding journey. I was so excited to reach the milestone of breastfeeding for over two years. However, I would often get remarks from friends and family members, questioning my decision to breastfeed. “When are you going to give him a bottle? Isn’t he too old to breastfeed?”
I realized that not only had I experienced the racial disparities of a Black breastfeeding mother, but so had many generations of my family. They were so used to seeing Black women formula-feed that seeing me breastfeed my infant made them uncomfortable. For centuries, Black women were forced to wet nurse babies of their slave owners, which often led to the neglect and inability to nurse their own children. This trauma has been passed down from generation to generation, creating a stigma regarding breastfeeding within the Black community.
After experiencing firsthand the difficulties that many other Black breastfeeding parents faced, I realized that there was so much work to do. Of the 32,500 IBCLC worldwide, only a small percentage of them are Black. It is so vital that Black individuals have access to culturally sensitive care providers. One way is by having access to care from providers that look like them and are able to share their unique experiences.
Studies suggest that breastfeeding may reduce the risk for certain cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and infant obesity, as well as type 2 diabetes in moms, which are all conditions that are prevalent in the Black community. With increased, education, support, and greater representation in the Black community, the percentage of Black breastfeeding mothers would increase, which would have a positive impact on the infant mortality rate in the Black community.
