Black Breastfeeding Week: Breaking generational cycles of trauma and pain

As Black Breastfeeding Week draws to a close, it’s a time to reflect as a black breastfeeding mother on how far we have come – but also how far we have to go.

For me, Black Breastfeeding Week is about embracing and reclaiming my power, my ability, and my strength to use my body to feed my babies. It’s about breaking generational cycles of trauma and pain. To be an example to other black women to feed their babies through breastfeeding.

For me, Black Breastfeeding Week is about embracing and reclaiming my power, my ability, and my strength to use my body to feed my babies.

To quote Kimberly Seal Allers, Co-founder of Black Breastfeeding Week: “When Black women breastfeed, they are reversing narratives, reclaiming traditions that were taken from them, countering stereotypes, and reestablishing the infant feeding norm in our communities.”

The theme for this year’s 10th anniversary of Black Breastfeeding Week is ‘A New Foundation’. It’s a beautiful concept. To stand firm and proud with confidence to feed our babies, to birth our babies with confidence, and to be heard and not silenced. We must set the groundwork for future generations to come.

We must set the groundwork for future generations to come.

One of the main reasons I became a breastfeeding peer supporter was not only to support breastfeeding but to support women of colour through their journey and struggles because it’s an area that has been neglected and representation is so incredibly important.

So here is to a new foundation. New beginnings and let’s continue to work and support women of colour because we cannot claim success until we are all successful. We cannot climb mountains and be victorious in doing so when we leave others at the bottom.

Peace and love, Faith x