Why Black Breastfeeding Week Matters!

Aug 21

Black Breastfeeding Week, established in 2011 by visionary activists Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, is an annual event that holds profound significance in recognizing and addressing the distinct journey of Black mothers in the realm of breastfeeding. This week-long observance is not only a celebration of parenthood but also a platform to raise awareness about the critical disparities that exist in breastfeeding rates among Black women. The United States has long been marked by significant racial disparities in maternal health and our breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are no different. It’s important to acknowledge that Black mothers face unique challenges in accessing proper and relatable support and resources. As we delve into the important conversations surrounding Black Breastfeeding Week, we acknowledge the urgency of discussing these racial disparities to pave the way for informed discussions, policy changes, and collective efforts aimed at fostering equity and empowerment for all mothers. I firmly believe that as birth workers, we must possess both knowledge and compassion when addressing weighty topics. Above all, we must maintain an ongoing dialogue about these issues, even when they make us uncomfortable. It's through this continuous conversation that we can shed light on disparities and injustices. Without consistently bringing these disparities into the open, true change cannot occur.

This blog delves into the crucial significance of Black Breastfeeding Week and why it holds a vital place in how we discuss breastfeeding as birth workers and as a part of the community with other mothers.

It will examine and highlight the prevailing disparities that exist in breastfeeding rates among Black mothers, the importance of addressing systemic barriers that hinder equitable breastfeeding support, the importance of representation in breastfeeding advocacy, and how it contributes to empowering Black mothers and families, and emphasize why amplifying voices and engaging in advocacy efforts are essential components in driving substantial change for Black mothers and babies around the world.

Highlighting the Disparities and Addressing Systemic Barriers

The disparities we see reflected within the realm of breastfeeding among Black mothers in the United States are in many ways just a symptom of the larger systemic inequalities that Black families face in our country. A stark reality is that Black mothers face a startling 3-4 times higher risk of maternal mortality due to birth and postpartum complications, while Black babies encounter a mortality rate more than double that of White infants. The nation's breastfeeding rates remain dishearteningly low especially when it comes to the duration of breastfeeding meeting and exceeding 6 months. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and continued breastfeeding with solids up until 2 years for the highest nutritional benefit. The low breastfeeding rates can’t be disconnected from the fact that the U.S. stands alone as the only developed nation without legislation mandating paid parental leave. For so many families the option to optimally breastfeed per WHO guidelines is robbed from them when they have to return to work days, weeks, or months after birth.

Over the past decade, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates have increased as a whole for our country the CDC reflects these statistics “Among infants born in 2019, most (83.2%) started out receiving some breast milk, and 78.6% were receiving any breast milk at 1 month. At 6 months, 55.8% of infants received any breast milk and 24.9% received breast milk exclusively” but they also share “Although rates of breastfeeding initiation have increased during the past decade, racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding persist…Although most mothers in the United States initiated breastfeeding, approximately one in six infants born in 2019 did not receive any breast milk, and disparities in initiation existed. Initiation rates varied geographically, with large racial/ethnic disparities existing both nationally and at state and territorial levels. Furthermore, states with lower breastfeeding initiation rates generally had a higher prevalence of racial/ethnic breastfeeding disparities than did states with higher initiation rates.”

Research further reinforces the importance of breastfeeding, as breastfed babies exhibit lower risks for conditions such as ear, respiratory, and digestive tract infections, asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Astonishingly, many of these very health issues disproportionately affect African American children. Kimberly Seals-Allers emphasizes that "breast milk is the best preventative medicine nature provides," addressing the immense potential for breast milk to contribute to improving health outcomes within communities that face these disparities.

Empowering Black Mothers and Families through Representation in Breastfeeding Advocacy

Addressing the issue of underrepresentation within the birth work and lactation support fields is of paramount importance. When the very spaces meant to offer care and support do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve or lack an understanding of the unique needs of Black mothers, the problem deepens. It’s not an accident that states that have imposed mandatory breastfeeding initiation programs and race/cultural competence education for staff have seen an increase in breastfeeding success for all mothers. But sadly many states aren’t valuing these programs or seeing the need for change.

Ashley Green's poignant account sheds light on this challenge, sharing her experience breastfeeding,

“Besides me, the only other member of my family known to have breastfed was my great-grandmother, who did so only out of necessity in the rural South. The hospital lactation consultants and support groups I encountered consisted of women who looked nothing like me. I felt alone and sad that I couldn’t find myself within a community I desperately wanted to be a part of. The breastfeeding world became another place tarnished by misconceptions and generalizations. I wonder how many Black mothers decide that breastfeeding isn’t for them because they don’t see themselves reflected in the lactation field. I also wonder about mothers from different races who might believe Black women don’t breastfeed because they don’t often see Black women in the lactation field. Other races and cultures need the voices and faces of Black women in breastfeeding as much as Black women themselves do.”

Recognizing this pressing need, Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, co-founder of Black Breastfeeding Week, underscores the significance of elevating Black lactation support and birth workers. She emphasizes that, “What we really found was that for black women, in particular, peer support models tend to be a lot more effective when there’s a sort of affinity culturally, racially between people there tends to be better support for breastfeeding”

Amplifying Voices for Substantial Change

Talking about these important aspects of our culture and society is a pivotal step towards bringing about meaningful change for Black mothers and babies on a global scale. Black Breastfeeding Week emerges as a beacon of advocacy that not only raises awareness but also pushes for concrete action to dismantle the systemic barriers that have long hindered the health and well-being of Black families. We continue to see change in breastfeeding rates because we keep having these conversations.

When voices are amplified, stories are shared, and experiences are brought to the forefront, a powerful momentum is set in motion. These collective narratives serve as a call to action, pushing against the “way things have always been done” excuse for inequality and demanding real and tangible growth in all aspects of healthcare, birth works, community work, and representation. Advocacy efforts like Black Breastfeeding Week harness this energy, channeling it towards change. By advocating for policies that address racial disparities in maternal and infant health, access to lactation support, and equitable parental leave, birth workers and advocates play a crucial role in driving real progress.

In the journey towards equity, all birth workers have a role to play, and the significance of Black Breastfeeding Week extends beyond the Black community. By recognizing the profound importance of this week, birth workers of all backgrounds can actively participate in dismantling systemic barriers, fostering inclusivity, and advocating for the well-being of all mothers and babies, regardless of race or ethnicity. In embracing the spirit of Black Breastfeeding Week, birth workers stand as allies, committed to creating a world where every mother has the opportunity to nurture her child in a safe, supportive, and equitable environment.

Black Breastfeeding Week stands as a leader and reminder on the journey towards equitable maternal and infant care. It amplifies the voices of Black mothers and families, addressing the disparities that have cast shadows over their experiences for far too long. Through awareness, advocacy, and amplification, this week serves as a powerful catalyst for change, illuminating the path towards a future where every mother and baby, regardless of their race, enjoys the nourishing embrace of care, support, and equity. It matters for all families and in all communities!

At Lindsey Eden Photography and Doula Support, I welcome and support all kinds of families and birth preferences. I believe wholeheartedly that LOVE IS LOVE. That Black Lives Matter, That people of all shapes and sizes have the right to birth the way they want to, and that we are at a critical point of needing to help change the Black Maternal Mortality Rates.