Mommy Too! Magazine :: Celebrating Mothers of Color

[ The First and Only Full Web Magazine Celebrating Mothers of Color ]

August 2004 :: Late Summer Issue :: Volume 1 Issue 10

tatistics recently released by the CDC spoke volumes to breastfeeding advocates across the country. Not only are mothers not breastfeeding as long as previously thought, black mothers are still breastfeeding at dangerously low levels. In fact, in 2003 only 54% of black mothers breastfed at birth, 19% at 6 months and a still lower percentage of 12% at 12 months.

Mishawn Purnell-O'Neal, the author of Breastfeeding Facts Over Fiction: Health Implications on the African-American Community, is a national advocate for increasing the percentage of breastfeeding among black mothers. Regularly appearing at conferences and speaking engagements across the country, O'Neal educates new mothers and moms-to-be about the importance of breastfeeding in order to ensure the optimal health of their babies. "I lecture about infant mortality and I take public health and breastfeeding and merge them together," says O'Neal.

Through her first book, Breastfeeding Facts Over Fiction, O'Neal lays out the misconceptions of black breastfeeding and also examines the multi-million dollar infant formula industry and its effect on how black mothers choose between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. O'Neal maintains that deceptive marketing and advertising by the formula companies undermine the confidence of mothers and their ability to make the choice to breastfeed.

Although formula companies own a giant share of baby-feeding and help to reduce black breastfeeding numbers O'Neal is clear about the negative effect that black mothers can even have in their own community. "Moms that have breastfed need to stop making it sound negative. If they tell other mothers that breastfeeding hurt them then other mothers will embrace the negativity. Mothers need to share the joys and the good things about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is an experience and not a product," urges O'Neal.

O'Neal recently created a keepsake journal called Mother's Milk of Love-Baby Keepsake Journal for mothers to keep track of the momentous breastfeeding milestones in their baby's life. Full of soft pastel colors, poetry and art that creates a mood of serenity and a mother's love, Mother's Milk of Love proves to be a great keepsake for any mom who is currently breastfeeding or will breastfeed and wants to chronicle their breastfeeding experience.

When asked how more black mothers will breastfeed, O'Neal adds, "New mothers need to be more open to breastfeeding. It’s not necessarily something that comes natural. You have to put the time into it. You have to be patient."

Visit Breastfeeding America to purchase Mother's Milk of Love and Breastfeeding Fact Over Fiction.

More About Breastfeeding

uring the first week of August, millions of women and their families will acknowledge World Breastfeeding Week. "Babies were born to be breastfed" is the national tag line of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office on Women's Health (OWH) and the Advertising Council's ad campaign running from August 1 - 7. Motherhood Maternity, the world's leading maternity retailer, supports the campaign and welcomes breastfeeding at each of their 800 locations.

"`Babies were born to be breastfed' is a powerful message and a meaningful way to get babies off to a healthy start," commented President Rebecca Matthias, who breastfeed her three children. Since we dress a large majority of moms-to-be, we are always tuned into the practical and emotional needs of new mothers. We are pleased to reinforce the wealth of breastfeeding resources and information available to them, as well as direct them to the breastfeeding information available through this campaign."

Increasing the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies is also one of the goals in Healthy People 2010, which lays out our nation's objectives for improving public health.

  HERE ARE TEN GREAT REASONS TO BREASTFEED.

  -- Breastfeeding is the most superior form of nutrition.
  -- The American Academy of Pediatrics states that human milk is the
     preferred food for all newborns. It provides the optimal mix of
     nutrients and antibodies necessary for babies to thrive.
  -- Breastfeeding promotes a strong bond between mother and baby.
  -- Women who breastfeed are healthier; they enjoy decreased risks of
     breast and ovarian cancer and protection against osteoporosis.
  -- Breastfeeding contributes to the baby's emotional and social
     development. It's a great bond between mother and baby.
  -- Research indicates that breastfed babies have higher IQs.
  -- Breast milk is more easily digested by the baby's digestive system.
  -- Breastfeeding is your baby's first immunization. Studies show breast
     milk reduces the risk of infections, lowers the rate of ear
     infections, protects against allergies and even lowers the chances of
     obesity later on in life.
  -- The sights and sounds of breastfeeding are beneficial for the baby's
     cognitive development.
  -- Breastfeeding is not instinctive. Nursing mothers will benefit with
     the support from a lactation consultant or a health care provider.

Motherhood Nursingwear (http://www.motherhoodnursing.com/) understands the value of breastfeeding and respects nursing mothers by offering a fashionable line of nursing tops and dresses suited to one's needs. At home or on the go, this nursingwear line provides nursing mothers the ease, security and comfort they need to feel while breastfeeding their baby.

Motherhood(R) Maternity, the nation's leading maternity apparel retailer, is famous for offering women amazing looks, amazing deals, and amazing value. There are maternity experts at more than 800 Motherhood Maternity and Motherhood Maternity Outlet stores nationwide, Canada and Puerto Rico. Motherhood Maternity can also be found online at http://motherhood.com/ or call 1-877-4MOM2BE for details.

Go to http://motherhood.com/ and click on breastfeeding for more information!

August Issue 2004

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