Breaking the Breastfeeding Curse

Ever heard of a generational curse? A generational curse is believed to be passed down from one generation to another. Many people live their entire lives under curses put on them from previous generations, directly or indirectly.

Did you know that less than 200 years ago, Black Mothers were forced to breastfeed babies other than their own? They were forced to “wet nurse” their slave owners children. Their offspring suffered and died because they were taken. Black mothers were forced to feed and care for a child they didn’t carry, a child they didn’t birth.

Because of this, once freed, black women began to stop nursing their own children. They were independent and able to afford formula. Formula became the norm and breastfeeding was a chain they were freed of. They could no longer be forced.

However, this ”freedom” became a curse black women are still seeing the effects of today.

Black mothers, even if they aren’t sure of the exact reason are more likely to formula feed than breastfeed because they do not see the importance, do not have the support they need, nor do they have the advantage of witnessing generations before them breastfeed.

Today, black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die during or after childbirth. “The CDC now estimates that 700 to 900 new and expectant mothers die in the U.S. each year, and an additional 500,000 women experience life-threatening postpartum complications. More than half of these deaths and near deaths are from preventable causes, and a disproportionate number of the women suffering are black.” (Amy Roeder)

Excessive blood loss from postpartum bleeding is one way black mothers are dying. This is preventable. This is a curse that can be broken

Breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin , when released, causes uterine contractions. These contractions act to return the uterus to its regular size faster and can greatly reduce the amount of postpartum bleeding a woman experiences, thus decreasing the chance of death due to blood loss.

Aside from this, black babies are dying. They are being born too small, too sick, or too soon due to pregnancy complications.  According to the CDC, increased breastfeeding among black women could decrease infant mortality rates by as much as 50%.

It literally is an issue of life and death…for both.

The lack of education and support, even from some care providers and some labor and delivery units, and we create another issue.

Breastfeeding promotes bonding, it encourages women to fall in love more deeply with their baby. It reduces breast and ovarian cancer rates, may aid in the prevention of type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It also allows baby’s immune system to develop quicker and reduces his/her risk of many diseases and viruses.

Black women are being denied these benefits because we aren’t stepping in and supporting them; educating them.

It is time we break this curse and support our black mothers. Weeks like #blackbreastfeedingweek are important because it educates us all; red, yellow, black, brown, and white. It gives us the resources we need, gives black mothers the education they need, and gives black babies the chance at life they deserve. It empowers black women to take back their babies. It breaks a curse!

Rachel Price, B.C.

Join us for breastfeeding talk on Facebook HERE

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Whack – A – Mom

Let’s be real for a moment, shall we? Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It…is…so…hard.

How did our Mothers do it? How did our Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers? The women who had to hand wash clothes, tend to crops, deliver 15 kids, raise 15 kids, see after a husband and a house? How in the world did these women survive? It baffles me.

We, with our support groups, cell phones, social media outlets, Google, and information overload get so amazingly stressed to the max at being a Mom. My theory?

Our Mothers, Grandmothers, and Great-Grandmothers had support systems. They helped one another. They witnessed their Mothers breastfeed and tend to chores. They had one another to help share the load.

Us modern women? Oh, we need no assistance. Why we can do it all on our own, thank you. Um, I call bull…

When I was pregnant, oh what a wonderful experience I was embarking upon. The delivery would hurt, but it would be manageable. The breastfeeding relationship between my son and I would be hard, but we would overcome obstacles with ease.

Um, again, I call bull… It’s like a game of Whack-A-Mole; anxiety filled anticipation. Are we going to hit or are we going to miss?

As soon as I began having contractions, my life forever changed. As soon as I looked into the alien eyes of my son who wouldn’t transition from womb to earth very easily, life was a beautiful terror. No one spoke of the pain, not really. No one mentioned the most disgusting fluids known to man would exit my body at speeds that Niagara Falls couldn’t compare to.

The underwear?? You mean the snazzy depends? That they give to women from size 0-22, that stretches to your body. The unbelievable excruciating task of simply rolling over. And forget standing up to go potty. F-E-A-R!!!!

No one mentions the days without showers, the weeks without sleep, the loneliness, tears, pure fear. No one tells you that you will be afraid of losing your newborn 259+ times a day. You do not hear of the weeks of after care for your body. No one really tells you that Post Partum Depression is so very real and what to watch for.

Then add breastfeeding into the mix. Is my child getting enough? Am I producing the right amount? Is he/she latched correctly? Is it time to feed again!? Is the poop supposed to look like mustard with seeds? Are they latching correctly? What position is the best to hold my child to get the most milk? Is my child hungry again? Comfortable? Is this gas, colic, or allergies to foods I am ingesting that is making my child scream like he/she is being abused? Can I have a beer? A glass of wine? Should I use a nipple shield?  Are my nipples inverted? Do nipples invert? That mommy group says I need to look for a tongue tie or lip tie. Yep, that’s what is wrong. I do not care that 4 Pediatricians have told me my child doesn’t have one, these moms are the experts and I know we have a tie problem.

Whew! Enter ME!!! Not ashamed to ask the questions, not ashamed to share the truth. Moms, it is ever so hard. And we made it that way because we think we are supposed to do it all solo. 2-3 days in the hospital and BYE! Take care!

WHAT??

We need to be asking other moms for help. Seasoned moms need to be offering and new moms need to be accepting. We need to throw the perfect persona out the window. We need to stop being afraid our child is going to be snatched from our arms if we seek help for PPD.

So Mama, I am here. I will come to you in your raw glory. I will come hold your hand, I will talk to you on the phone, via text, whatever. I will answer your most embarrassing questions with NO judgment. I just will.

My passion is for you and your child. My passion is for you and your success. My passion is for your and your mental well-being. My passion is for you, Mama.

Join me here on Facebook. I am currently studying to become a Doula and a BF Counselor. I am NOT certified, but I can give you my personal mom experience and share quotes from my material. Let’s begin being a community of helpful women learning from one another once again so our children will know that powerful women united are more powerful than one powerful woman exhausted.

XO,

Rachel

P.S. http://www.kindredbravely.com & http://www.breastfeedingworld.org are great places also for community.