August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month when we celebrate and support those who choose to breastfeed their babies. August 25-31 is Black Breastfeeding Awareness Week and it is important to note that a significant percentage of women of color don’t breastfeed.
I once spoke to a young lady and asked if she breastfed her baby and she responded no because she said the lactation consultant was very impatient with her and she was scared so she didn’t try anymore. One of the reasons a lot of black women don’t breastfeed is because of racial bias in the hospital system. It’s my hope that more women of color will not allow the impatience of someone who doesn’t understand women of color to deter them from breastfeeding.
