Most hospitals have implemented ways to educate patients and encourage a solid breastfeeding relationship shortly after birth. Many hospitals employ lactation consultants and hold classes on lactation education. However, it has been found that areas where more than 12% of a population is black, the hospitals lack the proper resources for mothers to be supported in their breastfeeding journey. For this reason, black mothers are nearly 25% less likely to breastfeed than any other race (Adams, Huffington Post).
In addition to insufficient hospital resources, black mothers often need to return to work sooner than other mothers due to being the only source of income in a household. Returning to work places extra strain on a new breastfeeding relationship, particularly if the mother is unable to pump breast milk or could not afford a breast pump.
Due to the breastfeeding rates in black communities being alarmingly low, many new mothers in these communities may not have been around other breastfeeding mothers. They may feel discouraged due to breastfeeding being a socially foreign activity. They may not have support from their community, and formula may seem like the easy or normal way to feed their new baby.
Why is breastfeeding so important?
Breastfeeding offers a host of benefits for both mother and baby. It is one of the most effective ways of facilitating a secure attachment and strong bond between mother and child. Breast milk also offers many health benefits for mother and baby. Breast milk contains many nutrients essential for infant development that are not available in any other food sources. It contains healthy bacteria to ensure an efficiently functioning microbiome and immune system in an infant. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast cancer in a mother. All of these benefits contribute to lower stress in the postpartum period for both mother and baby. Lowered stress during the postpartum phase can help counterbalance the toxic stress felt in pregnancy for black mothers.
The cascade of stressful events are setting African American children up for a vicious cycle of toxic stress through their entire lives, and their bodies are not prepared to adequately deal with stress because of it. Racial disparities in growth and development extend far beyond pregnancy and birth, but perhaps focusing on prenatal and postpartum intervention would prevent the cycle from continuing in the next generation.
Desirae,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fascinating post. I have been hearing about some interesting controversy over breastfeeding recently. It seems like there is still a big split between people in favor and people who are against. I really appreciate the way that you laid out the information in this post. It was very informative and eye opening.
This was such an insightful and informational post. I have studied this topic a bit while in my various sociology courses at UNC and I am well aware of the struggles that many mothers in the black community have to face while sometimes being the only source of family income. It is not easy being a mother, and being a single mom is already trying.
ReplyDeleteThis was such an insightful and informational post. I have studied this topic a bit while in my various sociology courses at UNC and I am well aware of the struggles that many mothers in the black community have to face while sometimes being the only source of family income. It is not easy being a mother, and being a single mom is already trying.
ReplyDeleteI always come back to your blogs because they are truly fascinating. Every time I read a post I learn something new. I did not know about the struggles that black mothers have with breastfeeding. Thanks for the insight. This topic is really interesting because it talks about a topic that has become controversial due to mothers being more open about breastfeeding.
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