Often referred to as “liquid gold” among midwives, research shows that breast milk is the ideal food for growing babies. It provides a host of benefits to both infants and mothers. With an intricately balanced blend of nutrients, antibodies and enzymes, breast milk supports growth, immunity and cognitive development.
Despite its well-documented advantages, many regions in the U.S. — especially in the South — continue to grapple with low breastfeeding rates. States like Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have some of the lowest rates in the country.
Health officials are working to change that by providing resources to new and expectant mothers. They’re also launching programs targeting communities with even lower rates, such as Black mothers, where stigma often deters many from breastfeeding.
One such effort is Sharing Health Education Awareness, or SHEA, a Mississippi Public Health Institute campaign. It uses a targeted, community-centered approach to improve health among Black mothers, babies and families in the Gulf Coast area. The five-year effort, which is part of the Gulf Coast Healthy Families, Mothers and Babies Initiative, is being led by the Mississippi Public Health Institute, Gulf Coast Healthy Communities Collaborative and Coastal Family Health Center with support from partners across the region.
“What we do is we get out into vulnerable communities and we work with the disparities that affect those communities,” said SHEA Program Manager Elizabeth Ozene. “SHEA’s demographic or target group is African-American women who are expecting or have already had a baby. And what we try to do is encourage them to increase their breastfeeding here in Mississippi.”
August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and SHEA has been hosting events to help boost breastfeeding awareness. The group provides resources, educational materials, and encouragement to new and expectant mothers.
Earlier this month, SHEA hosted a “community baby shower.” More than 30 vendors distributed information about breastfeeding, tobacco cessation, active living, and the importance of flu vaccination. Black lactation coaches worked with new moms, showing them techniques to help breastfeed successfully. People who attended were also given essential supplies like diapers, bibs and burp cloths.
“It's so important because so many of our young ladies have been misled, or misunderstood the reasoning behind breastfeeding,” Ozene said. “So what we have been doing in recent years is educating them, giving them the proper tools that they need for breastfeeding, and especially with letting them know that your baby’s immune system is not fully developed until they're five years old. So giving them natural breast milk is by far the most efficient way to nourish their bodies.”
And the benefits extend beyond the purely physiological. Breastfeeding establishes a deep emotional bond between mother and child, nurturing not only the body but also the heart.
Despite strong recommendations to breastfeed, according to a Mississippi Public Health Institute 2023 report, rates of Black mothers' breastfeeding initiation and duration are the lowest in the U.S., compared with those of other racial-ethnic groups, especially in the South.
Aside from stigma, Black women face a lot of obstacles if they want to breastfeed. They often have to return to work soon after giving birth and are less likely to have access to supports like lactation rooms.
The last week of August is Black Breastfeeding Week, and SHEA is hosting a virtual panel discussion on the benefits and misconceptions of breastfeeding.
“Black women on the Gulf Coast are half as likely to have friends or family that breastfed,” Ozene said. “We hope to change that disparity through educating the Gulf Coast community on the importance of Black maternal health while providing new and expecting moms with healthcare resources and community support.”
The panel will consist of a lactation consultant, a doula, and a Black mother who has recently been through a breastfeeding journey. New and expectant mothers will receive resources and information to aid their pregnancy and postpartum journey.
“Black women on the Gulf Coast are half as likely to have friends or family that breastfed,” Ozene said. “We hope to change that disparity through educating the Gulf Coast community on the importance of Black maternal health while providing new and expecting moms with healthcare resources and community support.”
