Breastfeeding versus formula feeding is a question that every mother who can breastfeed must ask themselves. As with any major decision, we often turn to our friends and family for support and encouragement. This is oftentimes the case with all things parenting – we even get tons of unsolicited advice to use in our quest to be the best mothers we can be.
Breastfeeding in the Black community in particular has come with loads of baggage and advice
Many moms don't consider breastfeeding until they learn they're pregnant
“Just like many first-time moms, I downloaded every book and app I could get my hands on so I could get as much knowledge about motherhood. I didn’t arrive with the definitive decision to breastfeed until I watched The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake. It encouraged me to take full autonomy over my body and to speak up to the medical staff that assisted me throughout my pregnancy. My husband was supportive. My Haitian parents were confused. Unfortunately, my parents and their Haitian culture never facilitated an open dialogue about many important life transitions such as womanhood, marriage, and motherhood. I’ve learned the most through experience,” said Francesca Hendrieth, a mom of four.
According to mom of three Ashley Buchanan, “I don’t recall ever really deciding. A nurse lifted my breast and popped it in her mouth. It seemed to work so I went with it. I breastfed her for about three months before my milk dried up. In hindsight, I was literally doing everything WRONG if I wanted to maintain a supply. My family and the child’s father were not supportive as far as breastfeeding. No one around me really had a ton of knowledge on breastfeeding either, not even older mothers.
“Later, I had two younger children. Breastfeeding my littles has been hard at times but mostly beautiful. I nursed my son for 19 months and plan to carry on with my 15-month-old until at least 2 years. Breastfeeding is hands-down one of the most special parts of motherhood to me,” she said. “I find it particularly sad how far we’ve gotten away from breastfeeding and the beauty of it. Formula got pushed so hard. Like me when I was young, so many women didn’t even know HOW to successfully breastfeed. Things are getting better. There are more resources available now compared with when I had my oldest. But we still have a ways to go.”
Luckily, not all Black women have a lack of support
Mom of two Kourtni Graves was one of the lucky ones. “It’s always been something I knew I would do. All of my family members with kids breastfed to my knowledge,” she shared. “I remember my mom breastfeeding my brother when I was little, and one of my close cousins also breastfed her son. I learned the true benefits as I got older, but I always thought it was just what you did when I had children.
“My family was very supportive. When I delivered my girls, they had trouble latching, and my mom and Grammy helped them latch. Family members and their dad would keep an eye on the girls so I could pump in peace. They were really encouraging and I’m appreciative of that.”
And mom of one Ket Simmons always knew her family had her back. “My family was very supportive about me breastfeeding. They didn’t know much about breastfeeding, but they supported my decision,” she said. “My mother even mentioned that, when I was born, breastfeeding wasn’t an option she was presented with. She wished it was.”
