Legacy Building through Breastfeeding: The Challenges and Triumphs of Reintroducing Breastfeeding within the Black Family
Guest blog post by TaNefer Camara, MS-HCA, IBCLC
Breastfeeding is more than a biological function and more than a mere choice in how we feed our babies. For Black mothers, breastfeeding is a righteous act of love and self determination in a nation that has historically, systematically and perpetually made attempts to reduce the life span and quality of life of Black People. When we look at breastfeeding as a legacy, something to be inherited by the next generation, I’m reminded that for many of us today may be the first in at least two generations to re-introduce this practice.
From Bottles to Breast: My Personal Awakening
My earliest memories of feeding babies involved bottle feeding. My baby dolls all had bottles and almost everyone I saw with babies fed them with bottles. The exception was 2 white women I knew who were still breastfeeding toddlers. I baby sat younger cousins and still remember the directions I was given. I was instructed to add the water, then the powder formula, a little cereal and a spoon of baby food. It seemed like an odd combination but I was 13 and following instructions from the mother of the baby. The solution was so thick a hole had to be cut in the bottle nipple for the baby to drink it. Fast for forward to 11 years later when I birthed my first son I knew I was going to breastfeed my child. By this time, 2006 I had done enough research to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding and all of the health disparities that could be significantly reduced by doing so. I was well aware of the health disparities in my community of west Oakland, the maternal health disparities, infant mortality rates, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The act of breastfeeding alone could change all of that not only for the baby but the mother as well.
I didn’t have much resistance to my decision to breastfeed from my own family; however, many of the moms I supported did. My own early struggles with breastfeeding despite feeling prepared led toward a career in lactation. As a former peer counselor and doula I supported moms through some of their greatest challenges. It wasn’t always about the pain or the worry about milk supply, sometimes the greatest challenge was their own family. Breastfeeding is a practice that is passed down from one generation to the next. When the grandmother did not breastfeed, or didn’t do so very long, there are many misconceptions.
Building the Village We Deserve
I’ve had moms tell me that their own mother poured their breastmilk down the sink rather than feed it to the baby because they thought it was spoiled because of the layer of milk fat that had risen to the top. Several moms were shamed or told that no one would baby sit because breastfeeding would spoil the baby. In some cases new parents had to choose between their baby or the family. Breastfeeding isn’t just an individual activity it is a communal effort. It takes a village to support a mother so she can nourish her baby. Having felt the sting of isolation and need to be surrounded by like minded mothers I had to create that space. In 2013 I released Teach Me how to Breastfeed, an ode to breastfeeding and an educational song and video. I had implemented support groups throughout my community but in 2020 I saw the need for a late night support group where Black moms could get both peer & professional support as well as have a safe space to vent, laugh, cry and celebrate both the joys and woes of motherhood.
The Midnight Milk Club
The Midnight Milk Club became that place where mothers found sisterhood and friendship through shared experiences. In it’s 5th year and going strong, we meet on Friday nights at 9pm. In our group, mothers exchange ideas, resources and advice. We discuss how we are creating new traditions and reconnecting with our ancestral practices. Mothers in Midnight Milk Club come while still pregnant and several recurring members are still breastfeeding 2 & 3 year olds.
While breastfeeding rates have increased among Black women, some still frown upon nursing beyond 1 year. However when you’ve made a conscious decision to pass down a legacy of health to your child and you find a tribe of mothers who are doing the same, you all thrive. For some of us, we’re the first in our generation to breastfeed and we’re insuring we won’t be the last. Breastfeeding is our birthright and our legacy.
