It may be Monday, but this Monday, we’ve all got something to be excited about.  It’s…

BLACK BREASTFEEDING WEEK!!! 

Black Breastfeeding Week, founded by three women, Kimberly, Kiddada, and Anayah, was created because, per their site, “for over 40 years there has been a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates.” By now, you’ve already read about my advocacy for Black mothers and babies and supporting them on their breastfeeding journeys.  You’ve probably also checked out my breastfeeding tips. So, I asked my real life friends, dope-ass, bad-ass mommies, so what is breastfeeding really like?  You can check out my resource page here, you can read about breastfeeding in a book, you can take a class, you can talk to a lactation consultant, but there is nothing like first hand testimony from mothers who have actually been about that life!

These three women have been some of my closest friends for the past thirteen years.  Read their stories and then please leave a comment with your own story! I will be choosing a few to share~

-Real Moms Share Their Stories-

Alexandra

Imani

“My first child did not cluster feed. It was super hard to get him to wake up to eat and latch. It was frustrating and upsetting to say the least, but because he didn’t cluster feed I had no idea what it really was. Boy did I find out with my second child! The lack of sleep was rough and I thought for sure my breasts were going to pop off and walk away. They were big, sore, and uneven. I was not ready for that at all.

The biggest, most helpful thing I ever learned was feeding while laying down. A lot of people say “you aren’t supposed to sleep with the baby in the bed” (read with as much sarcasm that you can muster), but it was a lifesaver! I just roll my baby to her side, pop it out and boom we are good to go! Of course you know your sleeping habits and if you are a wild sleeper this isn’t for you; but for me and my babies, bed sharing and breastfeeding go hand in hand.

I am very happy that I chose to breastfeed. It has helped create a bond between me and my babies that I am very thankful for, amongst many other benefits. Of course there are times when it is beyond annoying and burdensome. Like when they only want me when they are/were fussy or I can’t go anywhere alone without extensive preparation and effort. But at the end of the day it ain’t always about me. So I choose to breastfeed as long as I can and when I can’t do it anymore (physically and/or mentally), I know that I worked hard to do what is best for both me and my babies.”

Sarah