On Saturday August 25, Charles R. Drew University’s Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence and Black Women for Wellness hosted a celebration to honor the 11th Annual Black Breastfeeding Week.
The United States has the highest number of maternal and infant mortality rates with Black women representing much of that number, and in L.A. County, Black women and infants are 3-6 more times likely to die compared to any other race.
Black mothers and infants are overlooked and left without adequate knowledge throughout pregnancy and postpartum, and the Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence (BMHCE) and Black Women for Wellness are pivotal resources for the community to prevent these deaths and provide exceptional care.
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https://lasentinel.net/revealing-the-truth-about-black-maternal-health.html
BMHCE was “born in 2017 by the Charles Drew University (CDU) Department of Urban Public Health (DUPH), in partnership with the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM). These organizations partner with BMHCE to prevent infant and maternal mortality in L.A. County and the broader U.S.,” says the BMHCE team.
This year’s Annual Black Breastfeeding Week celebration featured giveaways, community resources, bounce houses, pamphlets, infant clothing, books, lactation classes, formula, breast pumps, milk storage bags, and nursing pads. From mothers, fathers, children, to grandparents, all attendees were given knowledge to ensure their pregnancies are being cultivated at the healthiest levels.
Black Women for Wellness staff emphasized the integration of breast health and self-care, sharing tips such as encouraging self-exams, wearing deodorant that is aluminum-free and not antiperspirant, exercises for breast health, and intimacy guidance for partners. They shared several of their services such as their Maternal and Infant Health Program, which raises awareness of state policies, advocating for women and mothers, as well as insurance coverage for Doula services among many others.
BMHCE also provides several resources for mothers and infants including prenatal and postpartum care, certified doulas and midwives, mental health support, non-hospital and hospital labor and delivery support, financial aid and scholarships for maternal care and resources among many others.
Asaiah Harville, lactation fellow for BMHCE and international board-certified lactation consultant, noted, “I’ve been working clinically for almost 10 years now and currently serving for BMHCE providing lactation education and support.
“It was so important to elevate and identify Black breastfeeding because of the disparities where we see Black women don’t get the support to breastfeed, Black babies are not getting breastmilk when they need it, and it really does have an effect on the baby and the mom. So we are here and excited to celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week.”
If you are a mom, know a mom, or becoming a mom, do not hesitate to reach out the BMHCE, or Black Women for Wellness for support. It takes a village to raise a child and raise a parent, so find more information for your needs on BMHCE websites and social media at https://www.bmhce.org/, https://bwwla.org/, @cdubmhce and bw4wla on Instagram.