Black Breastfeeding Week was created because for over 40 years there has been a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. The most recent CDC data show that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. The fact that racial disparity in initiation and even bigger one for duration has lingered for so long is reason enough to take 7 days to focus on the issue.” – BlackBreastfeedingweek.org
Breastfeeding World Celebrates Black Breastfeeding Week
In celebration of this amazing initiative Breastfeeding World will join efforts to educate women all over the world with informational posts about a variety of topics regarding breastfeeding, we will be featuring professionals from different cities around the USA who will have some great insights on the matter.
Breastfeeding can be challenging in many situations specially if you do not have the right support you need. Women have been discriminated and humiliated for breastfeeding their babies in public (many while wearing a nursing cover), nowadays many black breastfeeding moms aren’t able to accomplish their initial nursing goals of 3 months, they get lost in the process and with lack of encouragement they cannot go on.
Black and Breastfeeding, by Aimbriel Lasley
Aimbriel is an Indiana native, wife and mother of four. She owns and operated Purely Maternal, LLC.
I would get the stares, the questions the “are you STILL breastfeeding” remarks not from strangers…but from family. I know a lot of moms get them no matter what but when you’re a black woman it can be painful. It can be painful because our black babies are dying at a higher rate than their counterparts and that our black breastfeeding rates continue to lag on a national scale. Breastfeeding is a normal nutritive response. Yet as black women, we receive misguidance. Sadly, we are frequently not empowered to continue or even pursue a breastfeeding journey with our children.
Why? Breastfeeding is how we can save our children. We save them by allowing them to thrive and be healthy, to combat illnesses later in life. Yet we are met with generational and societal barriers that continue to derail our efforts. I could go on- but instead I will leave some small tokens of encouragement for the mamas reading.
Breasts are for nurture. The belief that our breasts are sexual objects is false. Biologically, breasts are the key to life- the key to fulfillment and sustainment. Be brave! Doing things different is a good thing. At times, Black women do not see breastfeeding or know of anyone that has done so. Frequently, we receive ridicule for wanting to “break the cycle” or do things different. Be strong and make the best decision you can for you and your children. Breastfeeding is a way of life, not a fad. We are made for this! For all of the black mommies celebrating their accomplishments this week, I adore you. You set a goal, you stepped out on faith, you accomplished, you DID it.
Purely,
Aimbriel
Make sure you stop by next week to read Aimbriel’s post about Debunking 4 Breastfeeding Myths!
Happy Black Breastfeeding Week!
Be sure to join us in our social media accounts. Stay up to date with the progress of our project!
And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld
–
[col1]
[/col1]
[col2]
[/col2]
[col3]
[/col3]
A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.
