National Breastfeeding Month is commemorated annually in August, with Black Breastfeeding Week being observed at the close of the month. Why dedicate an entire week to Black breastfeeding mothers specifically? Well, just like many other concerns related to Black women’s health, there are alarming racial disparities within the practice of breastfeeding. The overall goal of Black Breastfeeding Week is to change the historical narrative associated with breastfeeding, and amplify its benefits.

Besides bonding, breastfeeding yields a myriad of benefits for both mothers and their infants. For mothers, breastfeeding helps decrease postpartum bleeding, accelerates weight loss, and decreases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding benefits babies by providing protection against several infections and reducing the risk of childhood obesity and diabetes. Despite the many benefits associated with breastfeeding, it has been reported that Black mothers are opting out of the practice at a higher rate than white mothers.

Studies conducted by the CDC suggest that Black mothers are less likely to breastfeed in comparison to their Caucasian counterparts. The CDC reported that in 2016, only 74% of Black infants were breastfed for any length of time, compared to 86.6% of white infants. And just 48.6% of Black infants were still being breastfed at six months, compared to 61.5% of white infants. Since Black mothers are reportedly breastfeeding less, they and their infant children are less likely to receive the health benefits associated with breastfeeding. For this reason, this is an important public health issue in the Black community, which is also disproportionately impacted by prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality.

To address these disparities, we must understand the historical relationship between Black women and breastfeeding. During slavery, slave masters’ wives shunned breastfeeding, considering it a “messy and self-demeaning” practice not aligned with their genteel class stature. Consequently, their children were subjected to infections. To rectify this issue, enslaved Black women were forced to be wet nurses and breastfeed the slave masters’ children. This led to the infant children of wet nurses getting subpar nutrition via alternative milk products. As time passed, breastfeeding in the Black community was shunned due to the association with slavery and what some considered a practice reserved for destitute mothers. Baby formula companies developed marketing campaigns that reinforced this perspective and enticed mothers, leading them to believe that being able to afford baby formula was a symbol of higher social status. Baby formula then became the favored method of infant nourishment.

It is no secret that Black women have historically been subjected to overt and covert biases; systemic racism; and inequitable access to pre, ante, and post-natal maternity care. CDC data has demonstrated that hospitals serving large Black or low-income populations are less likely to help women breastfeed within the first hour of giving birth or provide access to lactation consultants, and tend to encourage early formula supplementation. Also, it is reported that these hospitals rely heavily on financial support from formula companies. A 2016 NIH study showed that Black newborn infants are nine times more likely to be given formula than white newborn infants. This information suggests that Black women are already disadvantaged before being discharged from the hospital and those disparities increase once they leave the hospital.

Furthermore, barriers to breastfeeding for Black women include systemic racism, bias, lack of knowledge and access to education, lack of support from family members, peers, social networks, and healthcare providers, and employment concerns like shortened maternity leave periods that require them to return to work sooner than their white counterparts. So the logical question is:

How can we break through these barriers and help bridge the racial gap?

It is imperative that we monitor and improve evidence-based, early postpartum care practices to support Black mothers. Potential solutions include: