Why is it that Black women have the lowest breastfeeding rates???

[Melissa Courts]

I am a black breastfeeding mother who isn't surrounded by many other breastfeeding mothers of our race. I have white and black friends but only my white ones are the ones who are breastfeeding or have breastfed. They didn't influence me in no shape or form. I breastfed my first two children before I met these particular mothers. Because I work for WIC as a breastfeeding assistant, I work with many moms, white and black and trust me there are white moms who are sometimes are not interested either, but I heard a black woman go so far as to say, "We are from the ghetto, we don't breastfeed". I was stunned. Even when I go to the conferences, I barely see any black professionals in this field. Its only a handful of us. I have recently heard that slavery is one possible explanation. Due to the fact, that the slaves had their babies taken from them and often times had to nurse the slavemasters babies instead and basically the assumption is that the ideology of not breastfeeding carried on from there. Yet Africans strongly believe in breastfeeding. What happened with us? What is the missing link?

[Spirit Filled]

I wish I had you strong mothers around me 19 years ago. I could not push through the pain. I did attempt, but could not do it (was it due to my being selfish???) Well, now, when I am approached by a young mother who is debating breastfeeding or bottle, I strongly encourage breastfeeding. Stay focused on your children ladies...Mother's know best : )

Spirit
www.proverbs31women.ning.com invites you.

[Jocelyn Riley]

My daughter is 13 months now, and still nursing. I have recieved comments, positive and negative over the past year about my breastfeeding. The negative comments do usually stem from ignorance, and I assume that the "positive" ones are usually out of surprise that a young black mother is breastfeeding her baby (and for so long). But I block all of it out, because I know the facts, and what matters to me is whats best for my baby. Sadly thats not the case for the majority of mothers in the black community. Its being passed on that breastfeeding is old fashioned or inconvenient. When what we should be passing on is the benefits it has to offer our children.

[mom of 3]

I am a mom who has breastfed all three of my children up to the ages of 2. My son will be 2 in october. I am still nursing him and I am also in the process of weaning him. I get a lot of static from many black women about nursing as long as I am or did. I have been called a freak and all type of names because of me nursing my children. I agree with Rhonda on the WIC statement., I feel what she said is true, if they had to pay for formula rather than rely on WIC, there would be more moms nursing.

[Rhonda McKnight]

Hi Melissa,
I breastfed my three year old for six months. I wanted to do it for a year, but I had to go back to work and just couldn't pump during the day in my work environment. I met many moms at the time and still meet others who think it's unfashionable to breast feed. I think it's just ignorance about what's best for the baby. And then I hate to go here, but if they had to actually pay for formula rather than rely on WIC there would be a whole lot more breastfeeding going on.