Leia Belt, a doctoral candidate in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Iowa, conducts scholarship in psychology, sociology, African American studies, and public health. She and a colleague recently authored two op-eds in honor of National Black Breastfeeding Week.

It’s possible to change low rates of Black breastfeeding, but it starts with acknowledging the legacy of slavery (The Boston Globe)

It’s a new era for breastfeeding moms, but racial disparities still exist, especially for Black moms. Today, despite growing acceptance of breastfeeding in public, Black moms still attempt breastfeeding at significantly lower rates than most other racial groups. While 90% of Asian infants and 86% of White babies receive human milk, only 74% of Black infants are breastfed at some point in infancy. Read more

Breastfeeding Can Help Save New Black Moms — Who Are Nearly 3 Times More Likely To Die (The Messenger)

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that Black mothers in the U.S. are 2.6 times more likely than white mothers to die of pregnancy-related complications in the United States. Some of these deaths occur during delivery, but most (64%) occur after hospital discharges when moms have taken their babies home. 

To save families from burying Black mothers, solutions must extend beyond the delivery room. Fortunately, breastfeeding is an intervention that can improve moms’ mental and physical health. Breastfeeding has also been linked with a lower risk of maternal mortality. Read more