Why black women don’t breastfeed

Question

I found this post so sad when I read it, I just wanted to see opinions, I definitely get this from the black community, it’s sad that it’s not mentioned more, most of everyone else has the luxury to breastfeed and keep feeding for up to a year where as most black women are not given that option, especially with the single mother ratings being a lot higher, we have to work and leave and afford daycare and all that stuff. Not that other women don’t have this same problem, but it’s more predominant in the black community, ugh, I know for a fact I can’t breastfeed FULLY for too long bc I have to work, and I can’t afford to not go in even only a few weeks after having my son. 😓

Answer

I think you’re using work as an excuse. Legally they have to allow you to pump when you need to. I’m a black woman and I pumped for 13 months.

Answer

We are at 9 months of breastfeeding and I work.  I pump at work.
I built a stash for work.
However I can understand the article, we as a breastfeeding community need to encourage EVERYONE to learn about breastfeeding.
I do see tons of black women in my facebook support groups also.

Answer

Even if you work, you should still be able to pump/ breastfeed.  I nursed my daughter for a year.  I work in the medical field and worked long hours.  I pumped right before work. Once about 2 -3 hours after I got in. Once at lunch and another one when I got off. If you are determined, its doable. I plan on doing the same with my son.

Answer

I work and I use my right to legally pump there is no reason Why you cant pump women faught hard for our rights to pump and feed our babies In public  i educated myself by reading and even YouTube and breastfeeding groups and I got my pump I got breastmilk bags and I told my job my schedules for when I had ti pump and I stuck with it we are 10 months breastfeeding and pumping and my baby has yet to get a fever. We can learn about our past but it's the future that matters and how you continue your life. I try to educate moms to breastfeed I tell my daughters and nieces that  maybe someday they will have babies and their breasts will nourish them and make them strong  be the difference I hope to make it to the 17% that breastfeeds to a year!

Answer

All the black women in my SO’s family have breastfed where as I was the first white woman since my great grandparents to breastfeed in my family.  My mom didn’t, grandma didn’t, aunts didn’t, great aunts didn’t.  In the 60’s-80’s breastfeeding was actually a “poor woman’s” thing so that affected ALL women’s choices, not just women of color.  Pumps are free through insurance now, there is no reason why women can’t continue to breastfeed after going back to work.  I plan to.  I did with my others and I even only had a super cheap crappy $20 single side evenflo pump at the time.  I see the point of your post but women are either determined to do it or not imo.