Breastfeeding is an important, beautiful, and complicated journey for many parents, which is one of the reasons why it’s so important to highlight the process. August is National Breastfeeding Month — a time to bring awareness, education, and advocacy. Ten years ago, three founders created Black Breastfeeding Week, which will be honored from August 25th through August 31st this year.
According to the CDC, “Black mothers disproportionately experience a number of barriers to breastfeeding, including lack of knowledge about breastfeeding; lack of peer, family, and social support; insufficient education and support from health care settings; and concerns about navigating breastfeeding and employment.”
Pair these with a national formula shortage and a pandemic, and the odds are stacked even higher against Black mothers who wish to breastfeed their babies.
However, all hope is not lost
Black moms often meet resistance when they express a desire to breastfeed
Rachel says Black moms have to “block out the bad” and “kindly decline” the advice of naysayers. As an experienced, nursing mom, Rachel says she enjoys the endorphins and connection that breastfeeding provides.
She also reminds moms that their bodies make the exact milk that’s specific to their baby’s stage and needs (such as combating illness). This is one reason why she dislikes when medical professionals push supplementation on Black mothers instead of offering sound breastfeeding advice and support. If the mom expresses the desire to nurse or keep nursing, she should be empowered to do so, not shamed, doubted, or manipulated into another choice.
Rachel wants moms who desire to breastfeed to begin the process of figuring out what questions they have and where they can find support to gain answers, but also to troubleshoot. Though it’s not quick and easy, she wants moms to build the confidence to seek answers and to push themselves to hold to their desire and decision to breastfeed.
A mother’s love is like no other, and if a Black mother has decided she wants to breastfeed, she should be supported in doing so. Rachel shared that though nursing has its challenges, she loves “the way my baby looks into my eyes, falling asleep at my breast.” She adds, “I love that I get to be such a great contribution in my child’s life.”
