Black Breastfeeding Week is about more than breastfeeding.
It is about the conditions that can make it easier (or harder) for Black mothers to feed their babies the way they choose, from access to lactation support and quality health care to paid leave, workplace accommodations, and economic stability.
This year, all of those issues are receiving more attention on Capitol Hill.
On August 27, Reps. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced a resolution recognizing August 25 through August 31, 2026, as Black Breastfeeding Week. The resolution, H. Res. 1491, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
And while the resolution does not create a new federal benefit or program, it puts congressional attention on a health disparity that matters for Black mothers and babies.
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According to the findings included in H. Res. 1491, CDC statistics from 2020–2021 show that 74 percent of Black mothers initiated breastfeeding, compared with 85 percent of white mothers.
The resolution also recognizes barriers Black mothers report, including pain or discomfort while breastfeeding, concerns about breastfeeding in public, limited promotional and educational support, interference with paid employment, and a lack of social support.
A mother may want to breastfeed but still have to navigate:
That is why Black Breastfeeding Week is increasingly viewed as a maternal health issue, not just a feeding issue.
“Breastfeeding is a Black maternal health issue,” Adams said in announcing the resolution. Adams is also a co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
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H. Res. 1491 recognizes and calls attention to the issues around Black breastfeeding.
The resolution does not establish a new breastfeeding program, require employers to provide additional leave, expand Medicaid coverage, or appropriate federal money for lactation services.
But it does express the House’s support for designating August 25 through August 31 as Black Breastfeeding Week and recognizes the racial and structural barriers that can affect Black families’ ability to meet recommended breastfeeding goals.
The resolution also calls on Congress to support policies that would give Black parents access to affordable health care, paid leave following the birth of a child, and appropriate places for breastfeeding mothers to express milk.
It goes further, connecting breastfeeding disparities to broader conditions such as housing, transportation, nutritious food, clean water, economic opportunity and access to affordable health care.
In other words, Congress is acknowledging that breastfeeding outcomes are influenced by much more than what happens between a mother and her baby.
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The resolution clearly connects breastfeeding to maternal and infant health.
The legislation notes that Black infants experience disproportionately high infant mortality and that breastfeeding can be associated with improved health outcomes for infants. It also recognizes that systemic and institutional racism can create additional barriers for Black women trying to meet breastfeeding recommendations.
That broader context matters because Black mothers already face significant disparities across pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
Breastfeeding support cannot solve the Black maternal health crisis by itself. But access to appropriate support is one piece of a much larger picture.
And very importantly, support should not become pressure.
Breastfeeding is a personal decision, and not every mother can or wants to breastfeed. A Black maternal health approach should make evidence-based support available without treating breastfeeding as a measure of whether someone is a “good” mother.
The goal is access to informed choices, not judgment.
One of the most practical issues raised by the resolution is what happens when a mother returns to work.
The resolution notes that one in four mothers in the United States returns to work within two weeks of giving birth and that many breastfeeding workers report having to express milk in inadequate or unsanitary spaces.
For Black mothers, who can face additional economic and workplace inequities, the ability to continue breastfeeding may depend on whether they have paid leave, reasonable pumping breaks, a private place to express milk, and an employer willing to accommodate them.
That makes breastfeeding policy part of a larger conversation about whether mothers have the time, resources and support to recover from childbirth and care for their babies.
The new resolution also fits into a broader congressional focus on Black maternal health.
Adams has been a leading congressional voice on maternal health and helped establish the Black Maternal Health Caucus. Her office has also supported broader federal efforts to address maternal health disparities.
At the local level, the same conversation is happening in communities.
For example, the New York City Health Department is recognizing Black Breastfeeding Week with programming focused on breastfeeding education, lactation assistance, maternal wellness, and other resources for Black families. Its Family Wellness Suites provide year-round breastfeeding education and lactation support.
That kind of community-based support shows how recognizing a disparity is only the beginning. Families also need access to the resources that can help close the gap.
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H. Res. 1491 has been introduced and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee because it is a resolution recognizing Black Breastfeeding Week—not legislation creating a new federal program or benefit—its immediate significance is primarily recognition, congressional messaging, and advocacy.
But for Black mothers and families, the conversation behind the resolution is bigger than one week.
Black Breastfeeding Week is not about telling Black mothers what they should do. It is about making sure that Black mothers who want to breastfeed have a fair opportunity to do so, and that every mother has access to the information, support, and resources she needs to make the best decision for herself and her baby.
That means access to qualified lactation support, quality maternity care and accurate information. It also means addressing the practical barriers that can make breastfeeding difficult, including limited paid leave, workplace accommodations, and unequal access to health care and community resources.
For mothers who want breastfeeding support, several organizations offer resources designed specifically for Black families.
Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA): BMBFA provides community-based breastfeeding support for Black families, including its Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Club, which offers virtual and in-person opportunities for mothers to connect and receive peer and community-centered support. The organization also offers educational programming and other family resources.
Black Breastfeeding Week: The official Black Breastfeeding Week organization offers information, community programming, and resources to support Black families and strengthen the pipeline of Black lactation professionals.
Black Girls Breastfeeding Club: Founded by public health scientist Dr. Ayanna Robinson, this organization provides lactation classes and community support online.
Chocolate Milk Café: This national network connects families with Black doulas and lactation consultants for culturally-attuned care.
Black Breastfeeding Week may last seven days, but the goal is year-round: ensuring that a mother’s ability to breastfeed—or her decision not to—is supported by access to respectful, informed, and equitable care.
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