Black Breastfeeding Week, observed each year from Aug 25-31, was created to close gaps in breastfeeding rates among Black families. Breastfeeding is a critical public health strategy to decrease high infant mortality rates, which disproportionately impact Black communities.
Across Northwest Indiana and throughout the state, infant mortality among Black residents is significantly higher than among white or Hispanic residents. In Gary, the rate is nearly three times the state average, according to a recent report from Methodist Hospital.
Breastfeeding can help lower those risks. It protects against sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, obesity, and other illnesses. But Black mothers still face barriers, from a lack of diverse lactation consultants to what advocates call “first food deserts” — neighborhoods with little access to breastfeeding support.
Overall, Indiana’s breastfeeding rates have increased over the past decade, increasing from 67.8% in 2012 to 73% in 2022, according to the latest Indiana WIC breastfeeding report available. However, while breastfeeding initiation rates have increased across all racial groups, including Hispanic, Asian, and white, Black breastfeeding initiation rates remain the lowest at nearly 75%. Similarly, Black women on average breastfeed for shorter durations than other racial groups.
To understand these challenges and solutions, Capital B Gary spoke with Sierra Woods, founder of MelaMama Maternal Wellness. Woods, a mother of three, is a registered nurse, postpartum doula, and one of about two dozen internationally board-certified lactation consultants in Indiana. She works to reduce infant and maternal mortality by supporting mothers and expectant mothers through education and hands-on care.
In this conversation, she shares what moms need to know, from dispelling the myths that Black women don’t breastfeed, to providing resources and solutions for those who do.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Why is Black Breastfeeding Week important?
The whole purpose of Black Breastfeeding Week is to show awareness that Black people breastfeed and gather more supporters around breastfeeding. I feel like in the Black community, a lot of our parents or grandparents didn’t breastfeed, so it’s harder to get support from your family sometimes to breastfeed because they didn’t. What I found is that a lot of other ethnicities might have people that have breastfed, versus with a lot of African Americans, we didn’t have that.
What are some of the benefits of breastfeeding?
For women, it can decrease your chance of getting breast cancer. For babies, it lowers their chance of getting certain cancers, diabetes, and it can actually help with bonding with your baby.
And then there’s benefits for the infants, right?
With babies, it has a lot of antibodies. So, for instance, if you are sick, it’s still really beneficial for you to go ahead and breastfeed, because your body will then make antibodies that will help protect your baby.
What are some of the most common questions you receive?
The most common question is people say they don’t think their baby is feeding enough because their baby is crying. There’s other things that babies need outside of just being fed. Maybe your baby’s crying because they need it. They want to be held, or maybe their stomach is upset. There’s so many other things.
To tell if they’re full, look at their body. So if their body is really tight or their hands are closed, it typically means they are still hungry. But if you notice that your baby is very loose, falling asleep, or hands opening, then most likely they’re getting full, or they are already full. I always say, look at the body language of the child. Also, facial expressions can tell you a lot, too.
Where would you recommend people start to get more educated to increase their awareness about breastfeeding?
Depending on where someone is delivering, I usually tell them to start off by figuring out if they’re delivering at their hospital. They need to see if their hospital offers any breastfeeding classes. Sometimes community centers and clinics offer free education from community partners.
What are some of the more common barriers that people face when they’re trying to get into breastfeeding?
The biggest barrier is the support system. Honestly, I think if more people had support from their family and friends, they would be more likely to breastfeed longer and have more success. That’s another thing: When I would do patient consultations, especially prenatal ones, I tell them to bring their support partner, to bring whoever is going to be with them when they have their baby. Those first few weeks of postpartum, bring them with you, because I want them to ask me all the questions they have so they can better support you. Because when you’re pregnant, by the time you have a baby, most times you have forgotten most things that somebody has told you, and you’re looking to your family or your support people to help you.
How much do you feel like race plays into these disparities that we’re seeing in black breastfeeding?
It did play 100% into it for me. Even in the hospital, it really showed. There are statistics that show that some providers or nurses are more likely to give Black families formula quicker than they would a white family.
I was a postpartum nurse, so I’ve literally seen it all. Sometimes I’d ask: “Did we offer her other support before we just jumped? Did you figure out if that’s what she wanted, or did you just do that? Maybe it’s easier for you, as opposed to educating her about how to do it.”
What’s one thing you want readers to take away from this story?
If you have somebody in your life who is pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding, encourage them. See ways you can support them on their journey, their postpartum journey, and see if you can connect them with resources. Honestly, if we just had supportive people in our lives, we’d be able to hit whatever goals we want.