August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to celebrate the benefits of breastfeeding and raise awareness about the support new mothers need. The theme of this year’s National Breastfeeding Month, an initiative created by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee in 2011, is ‘Nourish, Sustain, Thrive’. 

 Breastfeeding is important for both babies and mothers. Here are some key benefits of breastfeeding: 

• Nutrition: Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. 
• Protection: It helps protect babies against short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. 
• Antibodies: Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby. 
• Convenience: Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. 

Mother’s Health: Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too, including reducing the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and diabetes. 

 This theme promotes the importance of safeguarding, encouraging, and supporting breastfeeding to the human life cycle. While breastfeeding is practiced across the globe and has numerous health benefits, it’s crucial to recognize its particular importance for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women, who face unique challenges and disparities in maternal and infant health. 

 For BIPOC women, breastfeeding is more than just a personal choice—it’s a key factor in addressing broader health inequities. Research shows that breastfeeding can significantly reduce the risk of various health issues for both mother and child, including lower rates of infections, chronic conditions, and obesity. For infants, breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and development, and for mothers, it lowers the risk of certain cancers and aids in postpartum recovery. 

 However, BIPOC women often encounter systemic barriers that can hinder their breastfeeding success. These barriers include limited access to lactation support, cultural insensitivity in healthcare, and socioeconomic challenges. Disparities in healthcare access and quality mean that BIPOC women may not receive the education and resources necessary to overcome common breastfeeding challenges. 

  Whittier Street Health Center is committed to addressing these disparities in our community by promoting culturally appropriate health education and equitable access to high quality care. Whittier’s Women’s Health Services (Ob/Gyn) includes prenatal and post-natal care, and we have bilingual lactation specialists on the team. 

By shining a spotlight on these issues during National Breastfeeding Month, we can advocate for systemic changes that support all mothers in their breastfeeding journeys. Ensuring that every woman, regardless of her background, has the resources and support she needs to successfully breastfeed is a vital step to close disparities in health and healthcare for our mothers and babies.