Black Breastfeeding Week: Why Your Story Matters More Than You Know

Hey mama,

Can we talk for a minute? Like, really talk?

I'm sitting here with my coffee (that's probably cold by now because, you know, mom life), and I keep thinking about something that's been heavy on my heart.

It's Black Breastfeeding Week, and honestly? I have feelings.

The Truth Nobody's Talking About

Here's what gets me fired up every single time.

When people rattle off breastfeeding statistics, they act like we're talking about baseball scores or something. But those aren't just numbers—they're our daughters, our sisters, our best friends.

So here's the deal: 85.9% of white women start breastfeeding compared to 69.4% of Black women.

That's not a small gap, y'all. That's a 16.5 percentage point canyon that's been sitting there forever like that one pothole in your neighborhood that nobody ever fixes.

What really gets me is this gap used to be way worse. We've come a long way, but we're still not even close to where we should be.

And before you even think about saying "personal choice"—just stop. Don't even go there.

This isn't about choice. This is about access, support, and a system that wasn't built with us in mind.

Why Black Breastfeeding Week Even Exists

Back in 2014, some brilliant Black lactation leaders basically had enough.

They started Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25-31) because they were sick of watching our babies and families deal with health problems that could be prevented.

It's like this—if cars kept crashing at the same corner in your neighborhood, you wouldn't blame every single driver, right? You'd fix the intersection.

That's exactly what we're trying to do here.

The Numbers That Keep Me Up at Night

As an IBCLC and someone who's been in this work for years, these stats hit me different:

Black babies are dying at 2-3 times the rate of white babies.

Just sit with that for a minute.

The CDC straight up says that if more Black women breastfed, we could cut infant deaths by up to 50%. Half.

We're talking about babies' lives here.

And that's not even getting into everything else—Black kids dealing with more asthma, diabetes, obesity. All stuff that breastfeeding can help prevent.

When I tell people this work is life or death, I'm not trying to be dramatic. This is as real as it gets.

The Stuff We Don't Talk About Enough

Okay, this is where things get messy, and I need you to stick with me.

Our thing with breastfeeding? It's not like everybody else's. We're carrying stuff that goes back way too many generations.

The Historical Piece That Still Hurts

Back during slavery, our ancestors got forced into being wet nurses.

They had to feed white babies while their own kids went hungry. Can you even imagine that?

Some of our grandmothers looked at formula like it was freedom—finally having control over their own bodies after generations of having zero choice.

And you know what? That's not wrong. That's just trying to survive.

But it also means we come at breastfeeding with all this heavy stuff that most people never even think about.

Where Are the Role Models?

Go scroll through any breastfeeding content right now.

What's gonna pop up? Beautiful white women in those picture-perfect nurseries, looking all peaceful while they nurse.

But where are we? Where are the women who look like your mom, your cousin, your neighbor?

This whole lack of representation thing? It sends a message, whether anybody means it to or not. It's like whispering that breastfeeding's not really "our thing."

But it absolutely is.

Living in a Breastfeeding Desert

I call it "first food deserts"—places where trying to find lactation support is like searching for a decent cell phone signal in the middle of nowhere.

Not enough IBCLCs who actually get our culture. Jobs that barely make space for pumping. Doctors who jump to conclusions based on what we look like.

It's like somebody hands you running shoes with no laces and expects you to win a marathon. Sure, you might be able to do it, but come on.

My Story (Because It Matters)

When I became an IBCLC, I'd walk into professional meetings and be the only Black woman there. Every single time.

Well-meaning colleagues would drop comments like, "Black women just don't really wanna breastfeed."

Or they'd say, "It's just their culture—they like formula better."

My stomach would just drop every time. I knew that wasn't true, but hearing it showed me the kind of thinking that existed in spaces that were supposed to help mothers.

That's a big part of why I started Milky Mama.

I wanted to build something where every mom felt seen, supported, and like she could actually reach her goals. No matter what she looked like or where she came from.

Because when a Black mother makes breastfeeding work, she's doing way more than just feeding her baby.

She's breaking cycles. Building new family traditions. Showing the next generation what's actually possible.

Real Stories from Real Mamas

"I was the first woman in three generations to breastfeed. My grandmother thought I'd lost my mind. But after she saw how healthy my baby was, she started telling other women in our family to try it." — Keisha, mom of two

"Finding a Black lactation consultant changed my whole experience. She got why I was nervous and helped me work through stuff I didn't even know I was carrying around." — Jasmine, first-time mom

"The Emergency Brownies literally saved my supply when I went back to work. Having products made by someone who actually understood what I was going through made everything different." — Ayana, pumping mama

These aren't just nice testimonials I picked out. These are real women proving that when Black mothers get the right support, we absolutely succeed.

What Actually Makes a Difference

After working with thousands of Black mothers, I've figured out what really changes things.

Getting Care That Gets You

Working with healthcare providers who understand how race and breastfeeding connect changes the whole game.

Providers who acknowledge our history without making excuses. Who respect how our families work. Who don't make assumptions based on stereotypes.

It's like the difference between talking to someone who speaks your language versus trying to communicate through Google Translate.

Seeing Yourself Reflected

Community matters. Seeing yourself represented matters.

When you watch other Black mothers succeed at breastfeeding, it makes the whole thing feel normal instead of impossible. Social media's been huge for this.

Hashtags like #BlackBreastfeedingWeek have created spaces where we can share real experiences without getting judged.

Support That Fits Your Life

Let me be straight about what Black mothers actually need:

Lactation products that work fast and don't cost a fortune. Support that works with real-life schedules and challenges. Access to people who look like us and understand our journey.

This isn't complicated, but it means companies actually have to put our needs first instead of treating us like an afterthought.

Fixing the Broken System

Individual support matters, but we also need bigger changes.

More diversity in the lactation field. Better insurance coverage. Workplace policies that actually work for pumping mothers.

Healthcare training that deals with cultural competency instead of pretending bias doesn't exist.

The Ripple Effect When We Succeed

When Black mothers succeed at breastfeeding, the impact spreads way beyond just individual families.

For your baby: Less SIDS risk (which hits Black babies harder). Better protection against respiratory infections. Lower chance of childhood obesity and diabetes. Stronger immune system during those crucial early months.

For you: Lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Natural spacing between pregnancies. Possible protection against diabetes and heart disease. The confidence that comes from hitting your goals.

For our community: Breaking generational cycles. Showing other women what's possible. Better overall health outcomes. Building wealth through lower healthcare costs.

For the next generation: Kids who grow up seeing breastfeeding as normal. Daughters who have positive role models for their own future journeys. A completely different story around Black women and infant feeding.

What This Week Means to Me

Black Breastfeeding Week isn't just about raising awareness—it's about actually changing things.

It's about the Black mother who sees herself represented for the first time. The grandmother who decides to support her daughter's goals even though she used formula.

The healthcare provider who looks at their own biases and commits to doing better. The policy maker who realizes this is about health equity and social justice.

Most importantly, it's about you—the Black mother reading this—knowing that your journey matters.

You deserve every bit of support possible to succeed.

How We Create Real Change

Change happens when we stop accepting disparities as just "the way things are."

For you as an individual mother:

Connect with other Black breastfeeding mothers online and in your community. Find culturally competent support when you need it. Share your story to inspire others. Use products created by people who understand your experience.

For healthcare providers:

Take an honest look at your biases. Get cultural competency training specific to breastfeeding. Advocate for better policies in underserved communities. Amplify Black voices instead of talking over them.

For all of us:

Support Black-owned businesses in this space. Advocate for better insurance coverage. Push for diversity in healthcare training. Understand that these disparities are signs of bigger systemic problems.

A Message from My Heart to Yours

Beautiful mama, if you're Black and breastfeeding, pumping, or thinking about it, I need you to hear something.

You're not weird. You're not unusual.

You're part of an incredible tradition of Black mothers who've fed and protected their children against impossible odds.

Your great-grandmothers breastfed. Your ancestors understood the power of their milk. That knowledge is literally in your DNA.

The barriers you're facing are real, but they're not stronger than you are.

Every single drop of milk you give your baby is an act of love, resistance, and hope.

You're not just feeding your child—you're rewriting the story for the next generation.

You're proving that Black women don't just deserve access to support—we deserve to be at the center of these conversations.

You're showing the world that our babies are worth fighting for and our voices matter in spaces where we've been pushed out.

The Future We're Building

I picture a future where Black mothers have the same access to quality lactation support as everyone else.

Where the lactation field actually looks like the mothers it serves. Where breastfeeding disparities are something we read about in history books.

Where every Black baby gets the chance to receive their mother's milk if that's what their family wants.

This isn't just wishful thinking—it's what we're actively building through our work, community, and commitment to change.

Black Breastfeeding Week is just the start.

Every single day, we choose to center Black mothers' experiences and create real solutions for real needs.

Because you deserve the absolute best support possible.

And I'll keep fighting to make sure you get it.

Krystal Duhaney is the founder of Milky Mama and a certified IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) who has dedicated her career to supporting breastfeeding mothers, with a special focus on addressing disparities among Black families.

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Breastfeeding Week

What is Black Breastfeeding Week and when does it happen?

Black Breastfeeding Week takes place annually from August 25-31. It was created in 2014 by Black leaders in the lactation field to address racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and infant health outcomes affecting Black families.

What are the current breastfeeding statistics for Black women versus white women?

Recent data shows 85.9% of white women initiate breastfeeding compared to 69.4% of Black women. This represents a persistent 16.5 percentage point gap that has continued for decades despite public health efforts, though the gap has narrowed from even wider disparities in previous years.

Why do Black women have lower breastfeeding rates?

Lower rates result from multiple systemic factors including limited access to culturally competent lactation support, historical trauma related to slavery and wet nursing, fewer workplace accommodations, reduced generational knowledge due to targeted formula marketing, and unconscious bias in healthcare settings.

How does breastfeeding impact Black infant mortality rates?

According to the CDC, increased breastfeeding among Black women could reduce infant mortality rates by up to 50%. Black babies currently die at 2-3 times the rate of white babies, making breastfeeding support a critical public health issue.

What unique challenges do Black mothers face when trying to breastfeed?

Black mothers often navigate additional barriers including historical trauma, limited representation in breastfeeding media, higher rates of medical complications, less family support due to generational gaps in breastfeeding knowledge, and living in "first food deserts" with minimal lactation resources.

How can lactation support products help Black breastfeeding mothers?

Quality lactation products provide reliable, accessible support when professional help isn't available. Products created with mothers' specific needs in mind can bridge support gaps and provide confidence during challenging periods, especially for mothers with limited access to lactation consultants.

What should healthcare providers know about supporting Black breastfeeding mothers?

Healthcare providers need cultural competency training to understand the intersection of race and breastfeeding. This includes recognizing historical trauma, avoiding assumptions based on stereotypes, providing care that respects cultural differences, and connecting families with diverse lactation professionals.

How can the lactation field become more diverse and inclusive?

Increasing diversity requires actively recruiting Black professionals into lactation programs, providing financial support for certification, creating mentorship opportunities, addressing barriers to entry, and promoting Black leadership within professional lactation organizations.

What resources exist for Black mothers seeking breastfeeding support?

Resources include Black-led lactation organizations, online communities focused on Black breastfeeding experiences, culturally competent IBCLCs, peer support programs, and companies like Milky Mama that specifically address the needs of diverse families.

How can people support Black Breastfeeding Week and ongoing equity efforts?

Support includes amplifying Black voices rather than speaking over them, purchasing from Black-owned businesses in the lactation space, advocating for policy changes addressing systemic barriers, examining personal biases, and following the leadership of Black lactation advocates.

What long-term changes are needed to eliminate breastfeeding disparities?

Eliminating disparities requires systemic healthcare reform including improved insurance coverage for lactation services, workplace policy changes, increased diversity in healthcare education, addressing social determinants of health affecting Black families, and continued advocacy for maternal and infant health equity.

How does successful breastfeeding benefit Black communities long-term?

Successful breastfeeding creates generational change by reducing healthcare costs, improving community health outcomes, breaking cycles of health disparities, creating positive role models, and building wealth through reduced medical expenses related to preventable childhood illnesses.