Aug. 25-31 marks Black Breastfeeding Week. It's meant to raise awareness and highlight racial disparities in breastfeeding rates. It comes amid National Breastfeeding Month, which focuses on
- 75% of Black infants are breastfed, which is below the national average of 84%
- It's recommended that infants be exclusively breastfed for their first six months, if possible
- Many families have to stop breastfeeding earlier than planned due to outside factors
- For babies: it boosts immunity, lowers risks of infections, asthma, and obesity, and supports brain development
- For mothers: it reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, while also helping with postpartum recovery
Priority Health shares resources for breastfeeding families, watch below:
National Breastfeeding Month & Black Breastfeeding Week
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