Find out how moms got past the tall tales about breastfeeding commonly told in their communities.
Transcript:
00:07 Dr. Sahira Long: For those who are reluctant to try breastfeeding, 00:11 the first things I try to do is figure out why they’re 00:13 reluctant. 00:14 There are myths that they’ve been passed out through their 00:18 generations and upbringing. 00:21 Then trying to dispel some of those myths is the first step. 00:25 Jamilah Ellis: There’s the myth that it will affect the shape 00:27 and size of your breasts, when, in fact, that’s more due to, 00:30 like, nature, gravity, heredity, other things. 00:33 Breastfeeding doesn’t have a large impact on the shape and size 00:36 of your breasts. 00:37 Well, one thing that I heard a lot from a lot of the moms in the 00:40 community is that their partner didn’t want them to breastfeed, 00:43 because they wanted the breasts back. 00:46 And that kind of has to do with the over-sexualization of the 00:49 breasts in the American culture. 00:50 Letisha: It’s not your man, it’s not you looking sexy, it’s 00:55 just you feeding your child. 00:57 Michelle K: There are a lot of misconceptions about 00:59 breastfeeding. 01:00 My husband wouldn’t be able to participate in some of the most 01:03 important beginning times. 01:06 And all of those things aren’t true. 01:07 Dr. Sahira Long: One of the huge misconceptions in the 01:09 African-American community is the way that you bond is through 01:12 feeding. 01:13 And if you take that route away because you’re breastfeeding, 01:17 other family members need to be taught how to help the mom, how 01:21 to get a bond with the baby. 01:23 And that’s, you know, something that can definitely be done. 01:26 I mean, I’ve seen it in my own family. 01:28 My sons are probably if not closer at this point just as close 01:32 to my husband as they are to me. 01:34 Jamilah Ellis: Other myths that exist: 01:37 the baby will become overly attached to the mother if they 01:39 breastfeed, when babies are naturally attached to their mother. 01:42 They spent nine months growing inside your body. 01:44 Who do they have a closer connection to other than their mother? 01:47