The Wellness Coalition is holding an event at the Alabama State Capitol and launching a campaign highlighting the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and babies, particularly in communities of color, in honor of National Minority Health Month in April.

“Numerous studies show that rates of breastfeeding are lower in non-Hispanic Black communities than in any other ethnic groups,” said Delia Hasberry, REACH program coordinator for The Wellness Coalition. “We are working in communities in Montgomery, Macon, and Lowndes counties to normalize breastfeeding so that moms and babies can benefit from the positive health effects of breastfeeding.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding disparities affecting minorities include:

  • Fewer non-Hispanic black infants (69.4 percent) are ever breastfed compared with non-Hispanic white infants (85.9 percent) and Hispanic infants (84.6 percent).
  • Black infants are 21 percent less likely to have ever been breastfed than white infants.
  • Mothers ages 20 to 29 years are less likely to ever breastfeed (80.4 percent) than mothers aged 30 years or older (85.3 percent).

Event at the Capitol

The Wellness Coalition is holding a celebration to launch the campaign at the Alabama State Capitol, featuring local representatives, breastfeeding advocates and breastfeeding mothers.

  • WHAT: Life-Size Breastfeeding Cut-Out Campaign Launch Event
  • WHEN: Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • WHERE: Alabama State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
  • WHO: A variety of speakers with expertise in breastfeeding and breastfeeding support

“I chose to breastfeed because it’s not so common in the community of women of color, and it would be a new experience, said Latifah Warren, a local mother. “With the pandemic at an all-time high, I wanted to provide my baby with the best nutrition. Breastfeeding also provides the ultimate bonding opportunity with my baby.”

Breastfeeding Campaign

Throughout April, The Wellness Coalition will work to educate people on the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of breastfeeding-friendly hospitals and workplaces. As part of this effort, life-size images of local moms breastfeeding their children will be placed in businesses and organizations in the River Region. Some of the host sites for the standees include:

  • Agape of Central Alabama
  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System
  • Alpha Rho Zeta Stork’s Nest
  • COPE Pregnancy Center
  • East Montgomery Christian Family Medicine
  • Salon Couture
  • Gift of Life Foundation
  • Health Services Inc. Sites
  • Jackson Clinic OB/GYN
  • Kimistry Hairlab
  • Resurrection Catholic Church (Montgomery, Alabama)

“Launching this campaign will allow women of color to see moms who look just like them, breastfeeding their child,” said Hasberry, “Representation plays an undeniable role in normalizing breastfeeding and will help educate mothers and their support systems about the health benefits for them and their babies.”

Babies who breastfeed have a lower risk of:

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes (type 2)
  • Eczema (a skin disease)
  • Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting)
  • Infections (ear, respiratory)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm infants
  • Obesity
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of:

  • Breast and ovarian cancers
  • Diabetes (type 2)
  • High blood pressure

National Minority Health Month

April is National Minority Health Month. This month builds awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in minority populations and encourages action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications.

Learn more about breastfeeding at https://www.thewellnesscoalition.org/breastfeeding/.