#BMHW23 – Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!

Black Maternal Health Week 2023 centers and celebrates Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!

Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance​, Black Maternal Health Week is a week-long event ”to build awareness, activism, and community-building​ to amplify ​the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.” The week begins each year on April 11^th, the International Day of Maternal Health & Rights, to join voices with a global movement for action to raise awareness of global maternal health issues and advocate for respectful, quality, safe, and comprehensive maternal health care.

In light of the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., which recent data shows has been exacerbated by the pandemic; and amidst growing cases of clear neglect in care in hospital systems immediately after labor and delivery, BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions. 

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Breastfeeding is critical to maternal health!

BMMA shares key maternal health facts revealing persistent disparities in breastfeeding support for Black families!

• About 74% of Black infants are ever breastfed compared to more than 85% of White and 83% Latinx moms. (Source: CDC)
• Among all infants, in 2019, Black infants had a significantly lower rate of exclusive breastfeeding at age 3 months (36.3%) than did White infants (49%); at age 6 months, the rates of any breastfeeding were 44% among Black infants and 59.9.% among White infants. (Source: CDC) 
• Unsupportive work policies (including lack of parental leave), unsupportive hospital policies and practices, lack of lactation support (including apathy from providers), issues with latching, lack of family support, and cultural norms are factors that contribute to breastfeeding disparities. (Source: CDC) 
• Hospitals in areas with higher percentages of Black residents were less likely to provide recommended maternity care practices supportive of breastfeeding. (Source: CDC) 

Black Mamas Matter Alliance partners are working and collaborating to support breastfeeding for Black mamas and birthing people include:

• Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association 
• Black Girls Breastfeeding Club
• Chocolate Milk Cafe
• Mamatoto Village

Celebrating Black Mamas and Birthing People

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