Merlene Davis
Black women in the United States are far less likely to breast-feed than women of any other race or culture in this country….
It’s not one of those feel-good romantic Mother’s Day topics, but breast-feeding, or our lack thereof, is the true essence of a mother’s job: nurturing our children.
As a group, black women have the least amount of wealth in America, so why not save money by breast-feeding? Breast-feeding can save a family more than $1,200 a year, research shows.
First lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin have pointed out the health benefits of breast-feeding for mother and child: Breast milk is optimal for a baby’s growth; contains antibodies that protect children against ear infections, diabetes and some cancers; is easier to digest; and it’s natural.
And breast milk may enhance brain development and guard against obesity.
Still, according to one study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 40 percent of black women have ever breast-fed, compared with 70 percent of white women and 72 percent of Hispanic women. Read more…
By Merlene Davis — Herald-Leader columnist