Black Mothers'​ Breastfeeding Association’s Post

The data speaks for itself. Black mothers are: - More likely to be offered formula in the hospital - Less likely to receive adequate support or education around breastfeeding benefits - More likely to have inflexible working schedules making breastfeeding much more difficult During Black Breastfeeding Week, it’s time for a hard look at the things we do (consciously or unconsciously) that perpetuate these realities. As an example, the way mastitis presents in Black women is not the same, yet many providers are not trained on these differences. It’s time for reflection and actions or else we will be continuing to have the same conversation year after year. #Blackbreastfeedingweek

Happy #breastfeeding week everyone! How many of you moved uncomfortably in their chair reading this sentence? Do you think it make sense that the most natural thing in the world made you twitch? Did you know that in the U.S about 24% of mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at six months (+introducing to solid food)? And that in Israel only about 15(!)%? These rates tend to decrease EVEN MORE as mothers return to work, with many facing challenges balancing work and breastfeeding. Did you know the recommendation is to breastfeed for at least for 2 years? And yet, we live in a society that push mothers to give processed food for their babies so they could ‘live’ or get ahead of their career. Founders, managers and HR teams: You’re always proud to say how many women work in your organization, tell me - what did you do to support them in this phase? Breastfeeding mothers: share with me your best(or worst) breastfeeding stories! Let’s use this week to raise awareness to one of the most important topics of motherhood 💜

🌍 World Breastfeeding Week 2024: Support for All 🌍 Breastfeeding is celebrated for its incredible health benefits for both the child and the special bonding opportunity it provides. However, it's equally important to acknowledge that breastfeeding can be exhausting, challenging, and often stigmatized, making the transition difficult for new mothers. A year of breastfeeding is close to a full-time job. Women will spend an average of 1,800 hours breastfeeding in the first year (a full-time job with three weeks of vacation is roughly 1,960 hours). This shows just how much energy and time breastfeeding requires. It's essential that mothers are well-nourished and supported by their communities, including their workplaces. At Lucky Iron Life, we stand with breastfeeding individuals and advocate for a world free of stigma. This World Breastfeeding Week, let's come together to support and empower mothers, ensuring they receive the respect and assistance they deserve. #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #SupportMothers #EndTheStigma #Breastfeeding #CommunitySupport #MaternalHealth #TogetherForMoms

🌱 Let’s Talk About Lactation with our Sons: Why Silence Isn’t an Option!🌱 Recently, someone told me it might not be appropriate to discuss about #lactation while our son is growing up. That struck a chord with me. When Dhawal and I welcomed our little one, we were clueless about #breastfeeding just because it is never talked about in families before it is actually needed. Hence, I want our son to appreciate this incredible journey and understand, - what it entails, - how many hours are spent, - the changes that a woman's body goes through - support required from a non breastfeeding partner - and all the sacrifices a woman (or breastfeeding partner) has to make If at all, this should make him respect women MORE, not less! And all of this is important so that he can support future partners and understand how it is a TEAM effort! Why should we shy away from these important #conversations? Let’s normalize discussions about lactation at home, school, offices so our children grow up informed, supportive and respectful. How do you approach this topic with your kids? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🤔💬 As always, here's a blurry picture of us from one of our recent train rides. The other member of the breastfeeding team, is behind the camera :) #Lactation #Breastfeeding #Parenting #FutureGenerations

I know breastfeeding can bring up a lot of feelings for people. I firstly want to say that for those who didn’t want to BF or couldn’t, you are VALID. I breastfed my son until he was around 18 months. It was a precious time but also extremely stressful. It was pre-COVID and I thankfully had the support of a company who let me work from home part-time. However there was a lot of stress involved for my partner who had to navigate working from an office full time and a baby who was super picky with bottles. We tried every bottle under the sun until we finally found one he would use (Lansinoh). I really began to resent the lack of bodily autonomy towards the end, but I also loved the bonding with my son. I suffered from post-partun depression as well. It became so bad I had to leave my job. When I found a new job, it was also remote, but I had to bring my son to an out of state work event (while having no support and no one to leave him with). I was criticized for bringing him at the time. We worked through it, and I’m grateful to be where I’m at now. It’s a super crucial period of time, and we need to make sure we’re protecting moms and caregivers during this period. That’s why remote work options and caregiving support are so important. ✌🏻 #supportmoms #breastfeedingawareness #womenintech #womenempoweringwomen #moms #caregivers #remotework #womenempoweringwomen

This year’s #Breastfeeding week theme, "Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All," focuses on the need for a comprehensive and inclusive support for breastfeeding mothers, especially for women of colour who have historically been underserved. Breastfeeding is a #natural and #powerful way to bond with your child and lay the foundation for a healthy future, yet, many #women of colour face barriers that make breastfeeding challenging. How can we make breastfeeding less challenging for mothers? It is important that every mother, regardless of background, has equal access to: 👩🍼 Resources: breastfeeding education, lactation consultants, #healthcare #services and #resources that empowers women of colour to make informed choices for their families. 👩🍼 Support: #support groups can provide invaluable assistance and encouragement to breastfeeding #mothers especially in the communities where they can feel supported, valued, and heard. Peer support groups and mentorship programs can provide the encouragement needed for a successful breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding is a shared journey, one that requires understanding, support, and empowerment for all mothers. As we celebrate this #week, let’s advocate for closing the gap and ensuring that every woman, regardless of race or background, receives the support she needs. #Iyehealth #ClosingTheGap #Empowerment #BreastfeedingWeek

🦋 Shouldn't mothers be able to feel comfortable feeding their babies whenever and wherever they need? 🦋 Breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful act of nurturing. Yet, today also many mothers face discomfort and judgement when feeding their baby in public. 🦋Whether it's in the park, a cafe, a shopping mall, or at the workplace, no mother should have to hide or feel embarrassed when it's time to feed her child. 🦋 Employers can make a huge difference by providing comfortable nursing areas and breaks for feeding mothers. 🦋Communities can support by creating designated breastfeeding zones or areas in public. 🦋 Remember, Change comes into existence when you are eager to bring the change. 🦋 As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, let's support mothers. Let's create spaces that promote a culture of acceptance. 🦋 After all, A well-nourished baby needs to lead a healthier and happier life. 💙 Together we can normalize breastfeeding and empower mothers. 📍 P.S. - Have you ever felt embarrassed while feeding your baby in public? Did the world judge you ever? #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #SupportBreastfeeding #EmpowerMothers. #HealthWriter

So today let’s discuss about something super interesting the - policies & attitudes that value women and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a beautiful way to nourish our babies, something that should be supported and encouraged by everyone. But sadly, not all policies and attitudes reflect that. Some workplaces don't provide adequate support for breastfeeding moms, making it difficult for them. That's why it's so important for companies to have policies in place that support this. Providing designated pumping areas, flexible break times,etc can make a world of difference. So let's all do our part to advocate for policies and attitudes that value women and breastfeeding. Because when we value women and breastfeeding, we're not just supporting moms - we're supporting families, communities, and society as a whole. And that's something worth celebrating.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week 2024! As a Climate Ambassador with Young Leaders Organization, I am proud to support this year's theme of "Empowering Parents, Enabling Breastfeeding". Let's celebrate and support ALL mothers, regardless of their feeding choices. Whether you're breastfeeding, formula-feeding, or somewhere in between, you're doing your best for your baby and that's something to be proud of! Did you know that breastfeeding has a positive impact on the environment too? It reduces the need for formula packaging, transportation, and waste, making it a sustainable choice for our planet. Let's work together to create a supportive community for all mothers and promote a healthier future for our children and the planet. #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2024 #SupportAllMothers #Sustainability #ClimateAction #BreastfeedingSupport"

More moms are working while raising kids, but breastfeeding is not always easy for the working mom. Even though we know breastfeeding is great for mom's and babies' health, workplaces can make it difficult. Working moms often face obstacles like not having enough break time, lacking suitable places to pump and no place to store milk. Overcoming these challenges requires understanding and support from employers and colleagues. Let's make work a better place for breastfeeding moms! Having unique rooms and enough breaks for pumping milk is essential. Together, we can create workplaces that understand the needs for breastfeeding and help moms achieve their goals. #breastfeedingsupport #workplacewellness #RestfulPump #MomLifeBalance #momjourney #WorkplaceSupport #lactationhelp #momwellness