One Move and The Baby Gets It!

But did you know that, historically, Black women weren’t allowed to breastfeed their babies?

It’s true!

It is the 10th year of Black Breastfeeding Week and I’m here to give you just a little information about it, ok?

SO

In America, during the period of slavery, Black women were forced to use artificial means to feed their babies — like cow’s milk (or even flour and water) because their masters believed that breastfeeding was a sign of animalism; meaning that Black women were animals and not fit to be mothers. This stereotype has been used to justify a lot of inhumane treatment of Black women, including forced sterilization in the mid-20th century.

In more modern times, Black women were not allowed to breastfeed their babies in public and they were even discouraged from doing so in private. This went on for centuries due to negative cultural beliefs that were perpetuated in times of enslavement by white slave masters; Furthermore, it’s been perpetuated in modern times by doctors, nurses, and other medical staff in charge of taking care of Black women by openly discouraging them NOT to breastfeed, or by not providing the same support or encouragement to breastfed as other women.

I am here to tell you if you’re a Black woman who wants to breastfeed, know that you have a right to do so and many people and communities will support you and make you feel empowered to do whatever you feel is best for you and your baby.

Now, for the more fun stuff! Lol

If you’re a first-time mom, the prospect of breastfeeding can be overwhelming. There are so many questions and so much conflicting advice. How often should you breastfeed? What are the signs that your baby is getting enough milk? Should you breastfeed in public?

It can be tough to sort through all of the information, especially when everyone around you seems to have a different opinion. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself as much as possible. Read books, talk to other mothers, and reach out to a lactation consultant if you have any questions. (I’ll also include some resource links at the end of the article)

And I’ll tell ya, you’re never sure if you’re doing it right:

One of the biggest challenges of breastfeeding is the lack of control. You can’t see how much milk your baby is getting, so it’s hard to tell if you’re doing it right. The good news is that most babies are born with a built-in instinct to breastfeed. They will instinctively search for the nipple and latch on. Even in the middle of the night when you’re half asleep and drooling and you can’t find your glasses or the glasses to find the glasses….

You know what I mean? Whew!

But more about that later.

For Black women, there are often cultural barriers to breastfeeding. In many African cultures, breasts are seen as sexual objects, not as sources of food for babies. This can make it difficult for Black women to breastfeed in public, or even to talk about breastfeeding with their families and friends.

Plus, There is a lot of pressure on mothers to breastfeed, and this pressure can be even greater for black mothers. We are often made to feel like we are not doing enough for our babies if we don’t breastfeed, or like we are doing something wrong if we can’t breastfeed successfully. Black Breastfeeding week has a mission to change that.

Black Breastfeeding Week was created in 2011 by Dr. Katlyn Bogan (as a response to the maternal mortality crisis in the Black Community) to help normalize breastfeeding among black women and to celebrate the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. It is important because it celebrates and raises awareness of the unique challenges that black women face when it comes to breastfeeding.

Since then, Black Breastfeeding Week has continued to grow. In 2017, Black Breastfeeding Week was held August 25–31 with over 100 events in 28 states. In 2022, the turnout is expected to be even larger, even with COVID and his friends running around trying to rain on our parades.

Black Breastfeeding Week is an important time to remember the Black women who have fought for our right to breastfeed and to celebrate the progress we have made in normalizing breastfeeding for Black women.

By liking, following, and sharing this event, you can help support our efforts.

And you would make THIS Black woman feel very warm and fuzzy inside :)

So thanks!

Oh! If you’re interested in learning more about black breastfeeding week, or if you want to get involved, visit

https://blackbreastfeedingweek.org/

https://blackmothersbreastfeeding.org/

https://www.baeculture.org/bbq4bae