As Black Breastfeeding Week approaches (25-31 August) we’re excited to announce boobingit will be doing a series of Instagram Lives. Boobingit founder Ruth will be speaking with three special guests over the course of the week – starting from Wednesday 25 August.
What is Black Breastfeeding Week?
Black Breastfeeding Week is a yearly worldwide campaign founded nine years ago by breastfeeding advocates Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka. Each year has its own theme and for 2021 it’s ‘The Big Pause: Collective Rest for Collective Power’. It’s about honouring “the power of rest in our lives and movement” say the founders. It’s an acknowledgment of the hardships of the past year due to the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic and the poignant Black Lives Matter movement.
Breastfeeding is one of the best investments for saving lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations. In the US and in other parts of the world breastfeeding rates amongst black people are lower than their white counterparts. The most recent CDC data show that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. The Black Breastfeeding Week campaign serves to help reduce these racial disparities by raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding amongst black communities.
boobingit’s role during Black Breastfeeding Week
We have a number of exciting initiatives lined up to celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week and we’re looking forward to having you join us! The first of these is a series of Instagram Live events in which we’ll be tackling important breastfeeding topics.
Join us for Instagram Live interviews during Black Breastfeeding Week
To mark Black Breastfeeding Week we’ll be exploring important breastfeeding topics through interesting and honest discussions with our special guests.
Join boobingit founder Ruth as she hosts three special Instagram Live interviews during Black Breastfeeding Week.
Wednesday 25 August
How to get breastfeeding off to a good start | Sterling Grey-Simmons
Sterling is a mama of three and a Doula based in Atlanta. Through her Instagram page Loyal Lactation and in her day-to-day work she helps provide educational and support services to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their families near and far. We’ll be talking about how to get breastfeeding off to a good start and what Sterling thinks of this year’s Black Breastfeeding Week theme – ‘The Big Pause: Collective Rest for Collective Power’.
Mark your calendar for Wednesday 25 August and join us on Instagram at 8.30pm GMT.
Thursday 26 August
Looking after our physical and mental health when breastfeeding | Shakira Akabusi
Shakira is a Pre and Postnatal Health Expert and mama of four, including one-year-old twins. She has built a huge following on her Instagram page shakira.akabusi thanks to the realistic workouts she posts amidst her busy family life, as well as her honesty around all things motherhood and mental health. We’ll be talking about the importance of looking after your physical and mental health when breastfeeding. Shakira will also be sharing her top tips on how to better look after ourselves during the postpartum period.
Mark your calendar for Thursday 26 August and join us on Instagram at 8pm GMT.
Tuesday 31 August
Why we need to normalise natural term breastfeeding | Danielle Facey
Danielle is a teacher who lives in England with her husband and two-year-old little boy. On her Instagram page motherediton she is all about educating and empowering people to breastfeed on their own terms. We’ll be talking about the unsolicited advice people so often receive when breastfeeding older babies and children and why we need to normalise natural term breastfeeding. We’ll also look at the benefits that could come from adding breastfeeding to the school curriculum.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday 31 August and join us on Instagram at 10am GMT.
Make sure you are following boobingit on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to join in with all our Black Breastfeeding Week initiatives.
