Black Women Do Breastfeed: Breastmilk-The Nectar of the Gods

Photo via Instagram, By @lindsaypetty.photography

Breastmilk is the only complete nutrition for human babies. It is full of antibodies, enzymes, and hormones, which all help to fight infection, prevent disease, and contribute to normal healthy development. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months are less likely to suffer sickness, gastro-intestinal issues, colds/flu, and chest/ear infections. Research suggests that exclusively breastfed babies are half as likely to suffer from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The topic of breastfeeding can be a touchy one for many communities around America due to the sexualization of the female form and the breast more specifically. Breast can be seen as a tool to nourish and nurture one's baby, as well as a means of pleasure, as breastfeeding and sexuality are not mutually exclusive. For Black women, breastfeeding presents a unique set of challenges due to our history of wet nursing and enslavement, lack of familial and professional support, and access to basic knowledge surrounding breastfeeding. Out of this unique set of challenges was born Black Breastfeeding Week.  Black Breastfeeding week 2020 is set to begin August 25th and end August 31st with this year’s theme being Revive. Restore. Reclaim! We hope you do all three as we come together to celebrate black lactation!

What is Black Breastfeeding Week
It is important to celebrate human lactation and breastfeeding in all its forms. The founders of Black Breastfeeding week, Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, launched Black Breastfeeding week to reduce the disparities in breastfeeding between black communities compared to other ethnic groups. We use the last 7 days of August to celebrate our bodies, celebrate, and raise awareness of black breastfeeding education and advocacy. 

Why Black Breastfeeding Week is Important: 
According to founder Kimberly Sears Allers, there are 5 main reasons to celebrate Black Breastfeeding and Lactation: 

1. High Black Infant Mortality: The infant mortality rate of black babies is 2-3 times higher than white babies. Black babies are more likely to be born prematurely, which leads to varying degrees of sickness. Breastfeeding can provide essential nutrition to support healthy development -- babies who are breastfeed are 50% less likely to suffer from sudden infant syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding can significantly reduce infant mortality rates among Black folks. However,  it isn’t the cure to the racism and bias that black people experience daily that have a significant impact on the physical and mental health. 
2. High Rates of Diet-Related Disease: Breastmilk is nature’s preventative medicine. It helps reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, SIDs, and upper respiratory infections,  which disproportionately affect black and brown communities. Through breastfeeding your baby, you can reduce the risk of your child acquiring chronic diseases. 
3. Lack of Diversity in Lactation Field: It is important to celebrate lactation in all its forms, across all ethnicities. Leadership of breastfeeding initiatives are primarily led by white females. This is a problem. We need diversity and equal representation of all breastfeeding efforts. Through celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week, we hope to not only reduce the disparities in infant mortalities, but also highlight black breastfeeding advocacy and leadership! 
4. Unique Cultural Barriers Amongst Black Women: The dialogue surrounding breastfeeding in black communities requires special attention. As Allers states best “Black women also have unique cultural barriers and a complex history connected to breastfeeding. From our role as wet nurses in slavery being forced to breastfeed and nurture our slave owners children often to the detriment of our children, to the lack of mainstream role models and multi-generational support , to our own stereotyping within our community—we have a different dialogue around breastfeeding and it needs special attention”
5. Desert-Like Conditions in Our Communities: Black women are disproportionately affected by food apartheid (also known as Food Deserts), or regions poor in healthy food. While breastfeeding, it is important for mothers to not only have access but to eat nutritionally rich foods. Eating a balanced diet helps to not only drop the weight from pregnancy but it helps to fortify mother and baby, thus creating strong immunity, glowing skin, strong bones, a healthy nervous system, and more!​

To learn more about what the doulas of Our Mother's Light are doing in honor of Black Breastfeeding Week 2020 (August 25th-August 31st) head over to our Instagram page: @our_motherslight or  Facebook: Our Mothers' Light