February is Black History Month! This week, New Beginnings would like to highlight some stories about celebrating and discussing breastfeeding and human milk feeding in the Black community.

Black lactation advocates have been at the forefront of trailblazing the lactation field by developing resources that can help increase the level of support that lactation consultants everywhere can offer. One important resource we want to call your attention to is The Melanated Mammary Atlas® (MM Atlas) by Nekisha Killings, MPH, IBCLC.

“This digital resource tool features the largest repository of brown breast images anywhere. The MM Atlas is a searchable database of over 30 conditions, as presented on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian people. The purpose of the MM Atlas is to help familiarize practitioners with the various ways conditions present on more deeply pigmented skin, so that the insight gained may inform care interactions and care decisions regarding people of color. The repository will be ever expanding as new images are constantly added by health professionals. Access to the MM Atlas means access to more images of conditions on brown breasts than have ever been in one place. Who is The Melanated Mammary Atlas® for? It’s for anyone providing lactation support or breast/chest care professionally or in a volunteer capacity.” You can read more of Nekisha’s story here.

More stories that feature Black breastfeeding advocates’ work in making history in the lactation world and beyond are:

• Mecca’s Journey to Becoming an LLL Leader
• Lactation Equity: The Heart of Jasmine Creighton’s Mission
• Spotlight on Author and Lactation Consultant Nasheeda Pollard

Another important focus of Black History Month? Sharing books from Black authors! In a past New Beginnings post, author AJ wrote, “LLL USA wants to help highlight the importance of diversity in resources and lactation support. Positive representation of Black people in books, media, and lactation support impacts experiences and outcomes. ‘Research suggests that exposure to books and other resources about people who look like them, and stories that reflect their world, may contribute to an infant and toddler of color’s developing appreciation of self.’” You can read more of that post here, including a wonderful list of books for both children and adults.

Sharing and listening to the stories of Black families and parents as they make history in their own families and communities is an important aspect of lactation support, too. New Beginnings has featured some inspiring stories on the blog in the past that we’d love to highlight again here.

For personal breastfeeding stories from Black families:

• Stephanie’s Story: “Breastfeeding Is a Part of My Identity”
• Ta-Sha’s Breastfeeding Story
• Shanice’s Story: Addressing My Mental Health Improved My Breastfeeding Journey
• Imbued with Nutritional Riches: A Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Journey
• Sarai’s Breastfeeding Story

Please send your story ideas to Kylie at [email protected].

Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always

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