April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect people from racial and ethnic minority groups and encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications. One of the ways The Wellness Coalition is accomplishing this is by working to improve breastfeeding rates for African American mothers and infants.

“Numerous studies show that rates of breastfeeding are lower in non-Hispanic Black communities than in any other ethnic groups,” said Belkys Gomez, REACH program coordinator for The Wellness Coalition. “We are working in Montgomery, Macon, and Lowndes counties to normalize breastfeeding so that mothers and their babies can benefit from the positive health effects of breastfeeding.”

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants. As an infant grows, breast milk changes to meet the baby’s nutritional needs. Breastfed babies are less likely to get ear infections, die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and be obese in childhood. Breastfeeding moms lower their risk of developing hypertension, diabetes (type 2), and cancer and are more likely to lose weight gained during pregnancy.

Breastfeed Your Baby to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

Many moms and moms-to-be know that breastfeeding offers many benefits for moms and babies. But they may not know that breastfeeding reduces baby’s risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies who are breastfed or are fed expressed breastmilk are at lower risk for SIDS compared with babies who were never fed breastmilk. According to research, the longer you exclusively breastfeed your baby (meaning not supplementing with formula or solid food), the lower his or her risk of SIDS.

Safe Sleep & OTHER Ways to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

Healthcare providers and researchers don’t know the exact causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, research shows parents and caregivers can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths by doing the following:

  • Place your baby on his or her back for all sleep times—naps and at night.
  • Use a firm, flat (not at an angle or inclined) sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet.
  • Keep your baby’s sleep area (for example, a crib or bassinet) in the same room where you sleep, ideally until your baby is at least 6 months old.
  • Keep soft bedding such as blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and soft toys out of your baby’s sleep area.
  • Do not cover your baby’s head or allow your baby to get too hot. Signs your baby may be getting too hot include sweating or his or her chest feels hot.
  • In addition to breastfeeding and the recommendations listed above, other recommendations from the AAP to reduce the risk of SIDS include:
  • Do not smoke or use nicotine during pregnancy, and do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby. For help quitting, see How to Quit Smoking.
  • Do not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs during pregnancy.
  • Visit your baby’s healthcare provider for regular checkups. Your baby will receive important shots to prevent disease.
  • Offer your baby a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you may want to wait to use a pacifier until breastfeeding is well-established.

Breastfeeding Lowers Even More Risks

The American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges breast milk as the best source of nutrition for newborn infants. It’s recommended that baby is breastfed for the first 6 months of life at a minimum. Thereafter, solid foods may gradually be introduced. However, it’s recommended breastfeeding continue until baby’s first birthday.

Babies who breastfeed have a lower risk of SIDS and:

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes (type 2)
  • Eczema (a skin disease)
  • Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting)
  • Infections (ear, respiratory)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm infants icon
  • Obesity

Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of:

  • Breast and ovarian cancers
  • Diabetes (type 2)
  • High blood pressure

A human milk bank may be the answer for mothers who cannot provide their own breastmilk to their baby.

About Human Milk Banks

Human milk banks are a service established for the purpose of collecting milk from donors and processing, screening, storing, and distributing donated milk to meet the specific needs of individuals for whom human milk is prescribed by licensed healthcare providers. When possible, human milk banks also serve healthy infants who have been adopted or are not able to get their own mother’s milk.

In 2022, a nationwide baby formula shortage led to families having to seek other ways to feed their babies. The Mothers’ Milk Bank of Alabama (MMBA) is a nonprofit organization who collects, processes, and provides donated breastmilk to mothers and families in need. River Region hospitals who are supplied by MMBA include Baptist Medical Center East, Baptist Medical Center South, and Jackson Hospital.

Call The Wellness Coalition at (334) 293-6502 to learn more about Human Milk Banks and how to access them.

Additional Resources