A Tribute to My Mother During Breastfeeding Month

Thanks to my mother whose example inspired me and other mothers to breastfeed long before it was fashionable. A tribute to her as we celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week.

One of my earliest memories was watching my mother nurse my sister. Sometimes she would talk to my sister while she nursed, and explain to her that she had eaten a nice healthy meal just for her.  Listening to my mother I got the connection between caring for the baby and self care. So breastfeeding  always seemed like a natural process to me although few women were breastfeeding, and many considered it old fashion and out dated at that time.  My mother probably felt like a pioneer going against the tide of modern advancement. However, she instinctively knew this was the best for mom and child. So without any documentation extolling the benefits of breastfeeding, she encouraged other mothers to breastfeed.

Even when I nursed my son years later, breastfeeding was still a novel idea. However, by that time organizations like La Leche were paving the way by providing information and support to new mothers. Unlike my mother, I found a community where I could get information and support. Today the tide is slowly changing, breastfeeding is beginning to be looked at as a natural process with benefits to both mom and baby. Everyday researchers hail the benefits that help build the baby's immunity system, create bonding between mother and child, and strengthen the mother's body.

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a time to spread the word on the benefits of breastfeeding. All month long, people around the world are celebrating the amazing benefits of breastfeeding, while continuing the fight to ensure women have the support they need to breastfeed. In America the message needs to be heard loud and clear especially for African American mothers whose rate of initiating breastfeeding is the lowest in the country. There are social, political and cultural reasons for this disparity that need to be addressed. Today laws are being passed to protect mothers who decide to breastfeed but more work has to be done.  Women should not have to fear losing their job in order to nurture their babies.

Communities and hospitals need to spread the word and provide support for breastfeeding mothers. Even as individuals, we can help mothers with words of encouragement, a cooked meal, housekeeping, shopping errands and much love. We are all part of the village.

Here are a few groups providing information and support.

La Leche
https://lllusa.org/
https://www.llli.org/

United States Breastfeeding Committee
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm19

Black Moms Do Breastfeed
https://blackwomendobreastfeed.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Blackmomsdobreastfeed/

Mocha Milk Mommy's Breastfeeding Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mochamilkmommys/