Celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week
Celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week
I couldn't let this week come to a close without mentioning Black Breastfeeding Week. My wife would kill me, and I think it should be discussed more in our communities.
Black Breastfeeding Week is the week of August 25th-31st. I've always been an advocate for women to breastfeed their babies, but I really understand the significance now that I am a father myself. I see people go back and forth on social media a lot about women feeding their babies in public like it's an issue. These women are legit feeding their babies and people have a problem with it. I even just learned that it wasn't until 2018 that breastfeeding in public was made legal in all 50 states. So you mean to tell me that in some states, people were actually being fined or worse for feeding their baby? WOW!
Black women have had their own fight when it comes to breastfeeding. It's really not a lot of people that look like us in the lactation field. From hospitals all the way down the ladder. There is also a high infant mortality rate for black babies. According to Black Breastfeeding Week, Black babies are dying at twice the rate (in some place, nearly triple) the rate of white babies. this is unacceptable! Especially when it's something that can be avoided. A lot of black babies are born too soon, underweight, or have other issues at birth that breastfeeding can help make better. With that lack of representation and knowledge in the lactation field, mothers are far less likely to breastfeed their babies.
Even after learning about this information, many people may question why the need for Black Breastfeeding Week. Black Breastfeeding Week.Org has the top five reasons listed on their site for you to check out.
I encourage every black mother to breastfeed their baby. Is it easy? From watching my wife do it I can tell you it's not but it's so rewarding and it creates a bond like no other between you and your baby.