Why It’s Harder for Black Moms to Breastfeed (And How We Can Change That)

That was a comment we received on one of our recent posts. It was simple, honest, and deeply important. The truth is, many people don’t realize how many barriers Black moms face when it comes to breastfeeding.

So many Black mothers carry the weight of expectations around breastfeeding, "breast is best," they say. But no one talks enough about how the system makes it harder for Black moms to breastfeed. No one talks about how the odds were stacked against us long before we ever held our babies in our arms.

As doulas, we’ve seen firsthand how the system often sets Black moms up to struggle, not because they don’t want to breastfeed, but because the odds are stacked against them from the very beginning.

Let’s talk about it.

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First, the truth: Black moms are less likely to breastfeed, but not because we don’t want to.

Research shows that Black moms in the U.S. have the lowest breastfeeding rates of any racial group (CDC, 2021). But that’s not because we’re any less capable or less committed. It’s because we’ve been navigating a long, painful history and a present-day system that often fails to support us.

History matters.

There’s no way to talk about this without acknowledging the legacy of slavery. Enslaved Black women were forced to nurse their enslavers’ babies while being denied the right to feed their own (Freeman, 2020). Those wounds didn’t disappear; they shaped generations of silence, shame, and disconnect around breastfeeding.

Maya Jackson, founder of MAAME, described it so clearly:

"That stigma and shame that came down from those experiences became generational.” (North Carolina Health News, 2022)

When you don’t have aunties, cousins, or mothers who breastfed because they weren’t given the chance, it becomes harder to imagine it for yourself. Harder to ask for help. Harder to feel seen.

Then there’s today’s system, and it's still failing us.

Let’s get real about what’s happening right now.

1. Lack of Representation in Breastfeeding Support

Did you know that over 70% of lactation consultants are white? Meanwhile, only about 10% are Black  (North Carolina Health News, 2022).

When you’re vulnerable, exhausted, and trying to figure out how to nurse your baby, having someone who gets you matters. Someone who understands your hair wrap, your cadence, your story. Without that, the support feels distant, clinical, or just… off.

We hear this from moms we serve all the time:

“I just wanted someone who looked like me. Who didn’t make me feel ashamed.”

2. Returning to Work Too Soon

Black women are more likely to return to work earlier than women of other races (Johnson, et. al, 2015). And we’re more likely to work jobs without breastfeeding accommodations, no clean pumping spaces, no break time, and no grace.

Can we be honest? That’s not a personal problem. That’s a policy problem.

3. Even When There Are Laws, They’re Not Always Followed

Yes, there are laws that say your employer must give you break time and a private space (that’s not a bathroom) to pump. There are laws that protect your right to breastfeed in public. But here’s the thing: not everyone knows their rights. And not every employer follows the rules.

Too many moms get pushed out of jobs, forced to pump in closets or bathrooms, or made to feel like a burden for needing time to care for their baby. Knowing your rights is just the first step. We need systems and people that actually honor them.

4. Cultural Stigma and Formula Marketing

For decades, formula companies targeted Black communities aggressively, undermining breastfeeding as the default. Add that to communities with limited breastfeeding education and support, and suddenly, breastfeeding feels unfamiliar, even taboo.

One study described it well: Black mothers often face “negative cultural norms, stigma, and a lack of access to breastfeeding laws and policies” (Jenkins, 2022).

So what now? How do we change this?

First, we talk about it — like we’re doing now. We name it. We stop pretending this is just about milk supply or latching.

Then we push for real support:

• More Black lactation consultants.

So that when a Black mom walks into a room, she’s not met with assumptions, but with understanding.

• Better workplace policies.

Paid maternity leave. Designated pumping spaces. Schedule flexibility. These aren’t luxuries — they’re essential.

• More community support.

We need peer support groups, culturally safe spaces, and education tailored to our lived experience.

At Haven Place Doulas, we see you.

We’re here for the Black moms in Boston and across Massachusetts who want to breastfeed, but feel like the system didn’t set them up to succeed.

We know your story is layered. We know your strength runs deep. 

We’re here to walk with you, not to pressure or preach, but to hold space for whatever your breastfeeding journey looks like.

Whether you breastfeed for two days, two months, or two years, your love is not measured in ounces. 

It’s measured in the quiet moments you show up anyway.

You deserve support that reflects your reality.

You deserve a doula who says, “I got you.”

If you’re looking for that kind of care in Boston or the surrounding areas, reach out. We’re Haven Place Doulas, and we’re here for you, mama.

Get compassionate support now!