Breastfeeding Month: The challenges and opportunities of black breastfeeding
As National Breastfeeding Month draws to a close, UF Health and community partners are taking time to recognize important goals for improving breastfeeding rates among the black community.
Reduced breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration contributes to health disparities for a host of illnesses in both infants and their mothers. The final week of August is Black Breastfeeding Week, and we are gathering four panelists who will offer their insights regarding these barriers and how they can be overcome in our community. Panelists include:
- Mary Porter, a medical assistant for UF Health Shands outpatient clinics, a ROSE Community Transformer (breastfeeding peer counselor) and proud grandmother
- Magda Francois, MA, a clinical research coordinator and new mom
- Jen Revell, MCD, a doula and certified midwife assistant
- LaToya Hunt, RN, a ROSE Community Transformer and formerly a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
- Moderator: Adetola Louis-Jacques, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine physician here at UF Health
All five guests will be on hand for a Zoom panel discussion on Monday, Aug. 29 at noon, and you can register via Zoom to join us.
That same day, the larger community of support for breastfeeding families will meet at Cypress & Grove, 1001 NW 4th St. for a dessert party we’re calling Breastfeeding: The Sweetness, which will be held from 4-6 p.m. Local confectioners Nothing Bundt Cakes, Chinae Desserts, and Sugar Baby’s Cookies will have treats for tasting, and community breastfeeding supporters will be on hand to answer any questions about breastfeeding.
Please visit BlackBreastfeedingWeek.org for more information.