African American Mothers Research Articles

Eliminating Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding and Infant Mortality: A Qualitative Analysis of Conference Proceedings

Background: Breastfeeding confers important health benefits to mothers and infants. Despite these proven benefits, breastfeeding rates for African American mothers remain much lower than for other races and ethnicities. To address these disparities, a multi-disciplinary team hosted the 2nd Annual Conference to Eliminate Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding and Infant Mortality. The conference included three moderated discussions in which parents and healthcare providers interacted with audience members to identify barriers and opportunities toward improving breastfeeding support in the African American community. Objective(s): Our objective was to conduct a qualitative analysis of …

Can social support during pregnancy affect maternal DNA methylation? Findings from a cohort of African-Americans.

While stress and the absence of social support during pregnancy have been linked to poor health outcomes, the underlying biological mechanisms are unclear. We examined whether adverse experiences during pregnancy alter DNA methylation (DNAm) in maternal epigenomes. Analyses included 250 African-American mothers from the Boston Birth Cohort. Genome-wide DNAm profiling was performed in maternal blood collected after delivery, using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 Beadchip. Linear regression models, with adjustment of pertinent covariates, were applied. While self-reported maternal psychosocial lifetime stress and stress during pregnancy was not associated with DNAm alterations, we found that absence of support from the baby's father was significantly associated with maternal DNAm changes in TOR3A, IQCB1, C7orf36, and MYH7B and that lack of support from family and friends was associated with maternal DNA hypermethylation on multiple genes, including PRDM16 and BANKL. This study provides intriguing results suggesting biological embedding of social support during pregnancy on maternal DNAm, warranting additional investigation, and replication.

Do, say, learn: the functions of mothers' speech to infants.

We examined the functions of mothers' speech to infants during two tasks - book-sharing and bead-stringing - in low-income, ethnically diverse families. Mexican, Dominican, and African American mothers and their infants were video-recorded sharing wordless books and toy beads in the home when infants were aged 1;2 and 2;0. Mothers' utterances were classified into seven categories (labels/descriptions, emotion/state language, attention directives, action directives, prohibitions, questions, and vocal elicitations) which were grouped into three broad language functions: referential language, regulatory language, and vocalization prompts. Mothers' ethnicity, years of education, years living in the United States, and infant sex and age related to mothers' language functions. Dominican and Mexican mothers were more likely to use regulatory language than were African American mothers, and African American mothers were more likely to use vocalization prompts than were Latina mothers. Vocalization prompts and referential language increased with mothers' education and Latina mothers' years living in the United States. Finally, mothers of boys used more regulatory language than did mothers of girls. Socio-cultural and developmental contexts shape the pragmatics of mothers' language to infants.

Explaining Internalized Oppression Using the Film, Claudine

This is a teaching note. Therefore, I did not include an abstract. However, if there were one, it would be this:Lester and Tina Pine’s 1974 film, Claudine, is a fictitious story depicting the dating life of Claudine, a 36-year old African American mother of six who had been married twice (and “almost twice”). This film can be used to explain internalized oppression and how it might manifest itself differently even in individuals from the same families

Sleep SAAF: a responsive parenting intervention to prevent excessive weight gain and obesity among African American infants

BackgroundResponsive parenting interventions that shape parenting behaviors in the areas of sleep and soothing, appropriate and responsive feeding, and routines represent a promising approach to early obesity prevention and have demonstrated effectiveness in our previous trials. However, this approach has yet to be applied to the populations most at-risk for the development of early obesity, including African Americans. The Sleep SAAF (Strong African American Families) study is a two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating whether a responsive parenting intervention focused on promoting infant sleeping and self-soothing can prevent rapid weight gain during the first 16 weeks postpartum among first-born African American infants. The responsive parenting intervention is compared to a child safety control intervention.MethodsThree hundred first-time African American mothers and their full-term infants will be enrolled from one mother/baby nursery. Following initial screening and consent in the hospital, mothers and infants are visited at home by Community Research Associates for data collection visits at 1 week, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks postpartum and for intervention visits at 3 weeks and 8 weeks postpartum. The primary study outcome is a between-group comparison of infant conditional weight gain (CWG) scores from 3 weeks to 16 weeks; additional weight-related outcomes include differences in change in infants’ weight for age over time and differences in infants’ weight outcomes at age 16 weeks. Several other outcomes reflecting infant and maternal responses to intervention (e.g., sleeping, soothing, feeding, maternal self-efficacy, maternal depressive symptoms) are also assessed.DiscussionThe Sleep SAAF trial can inform efforts to prevent rapid weight gain and reduce risk for obesity early in the lifespan among African Americans.Trial registrationNCT03505203. Registered April 3, 2018 in clinicaltrials.gov.

Disclosure of Infant Unsafe Sleep Practices by African American Mothers in Primary Care Settings

This study assesses the disclosure rates of African American new mothers regarding their infants’ unsafe sleep practices by analyzing the mothers’ responses during separate encounters with a research assistant, health educator, and pediatrician.

Parental self-efficacy and infant feeding practices in a group of first-time, low-income, African-American mother-infant dyads

Category/Date Research Poster presented at Posters on The Move, at NAPNAP's 40th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, March 7, 2019, New Orleans, LA. Purpose To test the hypothesis that parental self-efficacy (PSE) is associated with infant feeding practices in a group of low-income, African-American (AA) mother-infant dyads. Background/Significance Infant feeding practices of low-income, AA infants do not align with recommendations. These infants are fed formula more often than breastmilk, if breastfed, only for a short duration, and given complementary foods (CFs) early. Understanding factors that contribute to this trend are needed, early feeding practices have implications for dietary practices and weight status later in life. Parental self-efficacy (PSE) has been found to be associated with infant feeding practices, however, this association has not been examined in a sample at risk for unhealthy feeding practices. Research questions 1) Is PSE associated with milk feeding type? 2) Is PSE associated with the duration of any breastfeeding? 3) Is PSE associated with age at introduction of CFs? 4) Is PSE associated with the introduction of inappropriate foods during infancy? Methods This correlation study was a secondary data analysis of the Infant Care, Feeding, and Risk of Obesity study (Infant Care). The study was deemed exempt by the IRB at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Infant Care study enrolled first-time AA mothers and their healthy, full-term infants (N = 217) between birth and 3 months of age. In home study visits were conducted at infant age of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. At each visit, mothers completed the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, which provided a measure of PSE; infant dietary history and three dietary recalls were also gathered. Dietary data was organized into four variables: 1) ever breastfed; 2) if breastfed, how long; 3) age of first CFs; and 4) if foods considered inappropriate for an infant were provided. Using generalized estimating equations and generalized linear mixed models, crude and covariate-adjusted relationships between PSE and each feeding practice were examined. Covariates included: infant sex, infant birthweight, maternal age, maternal body mass index, maternal education level, maternal marital status, and maternal depression score. Results The feeding practices of this sample were consistent with previous research, low breastfeeding rates and early introduction of CFs were seen. Additionally, PSE was high (M=38.7, range 8-48). No significant associations were seen between PSE and each infant feeding practice, even after adjusting for covariates. Married mothers and those with a college education level were more likely to breastfeed (p Conclusion Prior research has suggested that PSE is associated with infant feeding practices, however, this association was not supported in the current sample. Cultural and sociodemographic differences of this sample compared to prior samples should be explored further to understand if these differences contributed to the contradictory findings. Future research should consider inclusion of a tool that measures cultural beliefs regarding infant feeding. Additionally, the high sense of PSE reported by this sample was unexpected. Understanding predictors to PSE in low-income, AA mother may be needed in future research. Support for the Infant Care study was provided by NIH R01 HD042219-02 (PI: Bentley) Support for this study was provided by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) 2017 Foundation Research Grant

Parental Self-Efficacy in New Mothers Predicts Infant Growth Trajectories.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether parental self-efficacy (PSE) is associated with change in infant weight-for-length z score (WLZ) from age 3 to 12 months. Data were drawn from the Infant Care, Feeding, and Risk of Obesity study, conducted with low-income, African American mother-infant dyads (n = 127). PSE was measured at infant age of 3 months. Infant anthropometrics were measured at infant age of 3 and 12 months, WLZ change between these time points was calculated, and infants stratified into WLZ change categories (expected, excessive, or slow). To analyze the data, ANCOVA, multiple regression, and post hoc techniques were used. Controlling for infant birthweight, PSE at 3 months was associated with infant WLZ change (η2 = 0.05, p = .04). Mothers of infants who exhibited excessive growth had higher PSE than mothers of infants who exhibited slow growth (Tukey-adjusted p = .03). This finding suggests that infants of mothers with high PSE may have increased obesity risk, but more research is needed.

Social Support and Baby-Friendly Hospital Care: Improving Breastfeeding Rates Among African American Mothers [15N

INTRODUCTION: Women of high education and income status are more likely to breastfeed adequately in comparison with their less educated peers. African-American mothers continue to record the lowest breastfeeding rates compared to White and Hispanic mothers. METHODS: We recorded demographic information from 257 pregnant African-American women aged between 15 and 42 years recruited by flyers and word-of-mouth in a breastfeeding promotion intervention, and collected their infant feeding action at birth and at 3 months and 6 months postpartum. We computed their Baby-Friendly knowledge and exposure score using a 16-item survey, recorded their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) status. Rate comparisons was by Chi-Square test using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS Version 25.0. RESULTS: 98 (38.1%) were nulliparous, 114 (44.4%) had one or two children, and 45 (17.5%) had >2 children. Of 164 interviewed within a week of delivery, 104 (63.4%) breastfed exclusively, 38 (23.2%) mix fed, and 22 (13.4%) did not breastfeed (NBF). Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates at 3-months and 6-months were 32.8% and 17.1%, with NBF rates 30.5% and 44.4% respectively. Breastfeeding rates were higher for educated, older, and married mothers, but similar across work status. NBF rates at 3 months for mothers on SNAP, SNAP & WIC, WIC only, and Neither, were 47.1%, 50.0%, 16.0% and 15.2% respectively, P<.004. The rate for exclusive breastfeeding for WIC mothers with high vs low Baby-Friendly exposure score were 38.0% vs 0.0%, P<.006. CONCLUSION: Policies that combine Baby-Friendly principles and nutritional assistance for all mothers, particularly low-income working mothers, will improve breastfeeding rates dramatically.

Racial disparity in maternal phthalates exposure; Association with racial disparity in fetal growth and birth outcomes

Experimental and observational data implicate phthalates as developmental toxicants. However, few data are available to assess the maternal risks of gestational exposure by race and infant sex. To begin to address this data gap, we characterized associations between maternal urinary phthalate metabolites and birth outcomes among African American and white mothers from a southeastern U.S. population. We enrolled pregnant African American (n = 152) and white (n = 158) women with singleton live births between 18 and 22 weeks gestation. We measured phthalate metabolites (mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate (MEHHP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP), and the sums of DEHP (ΣDEHP) and DBP (ΣDBP) metabolites) in up to two gestational urine specimens from mothers, and evaluated confounder-adjusted associations per natural log unit greater concentration with birth weight for gestational age z-score, small for gestational age (SGA; <10th %tile), preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks gestation), and low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g). We also tested for interactions by maternal race and infant sex. We found that lower z-scores were associated with greater MiBP (β = −0.28; 95% CI: −0.54, −0.02) and MMP (β = −0.30; 95% CI: −0.52, −0.09) concentrations, while MEP interacted with race (p = 0.04), indicating an association among whites (β = −0.14; 95% CI: −0.28, 0.001) but not among African Americans (β = 0.05; 95% CI = −0.09, 0.19). Greater MiBP (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.21, 6.56) and MEOHP (OR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.05, 7.42) were associated with an overall higher SGA risk, greater MEHP was associated with higher SGA risk (p = 0.10) in whites (OR = 3.26 95% CI: 0.64, 16.56) but not in African Americans (OR = 0.71 95% CI: 0.07, 7.17), and the associations for MiBP (p = 0.02) and ΣDBP (p = 0.02) varied by infant sex. We detected interactions for PTB in which African Americans were at higher risk than whites for greater MiBP (p = 0.08) and MEP (p = 0.02) although lower risk for greater MEHP (p = 0.09). Greater MEP was associated with an overall higher LBW risk (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.86), and males were at higher risk than females with greater MBP (p = 0.002), MiBP (p = 0.02), MBzP (p = 0.01), MEP (p = 0.002), MMP (p = 0.09), and ΣDBP (p = 0.01) concentrations. Overall, our results suggest that gestational phthalate exposure is associated with adverse maternal birth outcomes, and that the effects vary by maternal race and infant sex.

Experiences of Community Doulas Working with Low-Income, African American Mothers.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to learn from doulas the components of their services that might best serve low-income, African American (AA) women and to show the significance of doulas in helping these women have healthy, positive, birth experiences.Methods: Ten doulas were recruited from a local community doula program and through word-of-mouth referrals from participants and completed in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Atlas.ti software to identify emerging themes. Thematic saturation was achieved in interviews.Results: Several themes emerged from the interviews including: (1) The influence of similarities of race, culture, and lived experience on doula care; (2) How doulas often provide birthing persons with support and resources beyond birth; and (3) How doulas recognize the institutional biases that exist in the health care system and try to mediate their effect on birthing persons.Conclusions: These themes highlight how doulas can support birthing persons to mitigate the negative effects of social determinants of health, specifically racism and classism, and highlight potential avenues for doulas to consider when working with birthing persons who have low income and are AA.

Breaking Silences

Abstract: The focus of this essay is a memoir of first-time biological motherhood, Baby Love, by Third Wave feminist writer and cultural critic Rebecca Walker (2007). This essay enlists a black and Third Wave feminist intersectional theoretic to argue that Walker, a famous second-generation black and Third Wave feminist daughter and mother, forwards a child-and-parent-centric model of motherhood that privileges biological bonds over chosen bonds (e.g., step, adoptive, othermothers) with one’s children. A self-identified bisexual woman, Walker centralizes in Baby Love a heterosexual nuclear family model that is informed by feminist ideology and takes shape in a twenty-first-century material reality transformed by feminism. Second to this, and in the context of her relationship with her famous African American mother, Walker characterizes the biological (black feminist) mother-daughter relationship as controlled by the mother and infantilizing most especially for childless daughters who therefore function as muted and acted-upon subjects in the (black feminist) mother-daughter dyad.

It Takes an E-Village: Supporting African American Mothers in Sustaining Breastfeeding Through Facebook Communities.

Lack of breastfeeding support is a common barrier reported by African American mothers, whose breastfeeding rates remain significantly below the national average. Despite mothers' reported use of social network sites to access support on topics relating to child rearing, few studies have examined their use to exchange breastfeeding support. To describe (1) the experiences of African American mothers who participate in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook and (2) the breastfeeding beliefs, practices, and outcomes for this population of mothers. This was a prospective, cross-sectional qualitative study with an online focus group design. The study was guided by Black Feminist Thought and an integrated model of behavior prediction. Four online focus groups (N = 22) were conducted using video conferencing during September 2017 with African American mothers who were participating in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. Thematic analysis was used to develop four themes and two subthemes, including creating a community for Black mothers, online interactions and levels of engagement, advantages of participating in online support groups, critiques of online support groups, empowerment of self and others, and shifts in breastfeeding perceptions and decisions. Among participants in this study, positive imagery of African American breastfeeding mothers and ongoing support from women with shared experiences improved confidence with public breastfeeding and prolonged goals for breastfeeding duration. Receiving peer support within Facebook communities may positively influence breastfeeding norms and confidence in breastfeeding, help mothers to overcome breastfeeding challenges, and ultimately extend intended breastfeeding duration.

The Experiences of African American Mothers Raising Sons in the Context of #BlackLivesMatter

The Experiences of African American Mothers Raising Sons in the Context of #BlackLivesMatter

3049 Prenatal care as a protective factor for preterm birth and smoking during pregnancy in nulliparous patients: a propensity score analysis

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Preterm birth rates have been rising in the United States, and reducing preterm birth is a high-priority clinical and public health concern. There are no existing strategies to reduce preterm birth in nulliparous individuals. The present study aims to evaluate prenatal care as a protective factor for preterm birth in this population. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Missouri birth record data for child birth years 1993-2016 were used to create a sample of 325,088 singleton births to nulliparous women, themselves born in MO 1975-1985. Logistic regressions, stratified by maternal race (White, African-American, Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Other), were used to predict preterm birth (&lt; 37 weeks gestational age) as a function of 1) initiation of prenatal care of by end of first trimester and 2) Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, with sociodemographic covariates of child birth year, maternal age, highest educational level, and marital status (four level variable, including married yes/no, and partner named on birth record, yes/no). Subsequent analyses will use this logistic regression to create a propensity score predicting smoking during pregnancy using birth record parental sociodemographic characteristics, stratified by maternal race. Primary analyses will focus on the role of prenatal care in predicting smoking during pregnancy and preterm birth risk within propensity score stratum. Secondary analyses will consider the role of other risk factors, including maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and maternal DUI history, on preterm birth risk. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Preliminary logistic regressions predicting preterm birth were analyzed, stratified by maternal race. In White mothers, preterm birth prevalence was 8.2%, and risk was significantly increased by maternal age ≤ 15 and ≥ 31, being unmarried, and by receiving no prenatal care, yet unaffected by timing of prenatal care initiation. For African-American mothers, preterm birth prevalence was 11.9%, and risk was significantly increased by being unmarried and both by not initiating prenatal care by end of first trimester and receiving no prenatal care. Preliminary samples were too small for solid inferences for other races. Anticipated results are that after propensity score match, earlier initiation of prenatal care will show modest protective effect on preterm birth, but other characteristics such as maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and DUI status will show stronger effects on predicting preterm birth risk. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: By evaluating the role of prenatal care initiation and delivery on preterm birth, this work provides an evidence base for prenatal care schedules and for understanding the interplay of sociodemographics, healthcare delivery, and individual characteristics in the context of preterm birth risk and potentially reduce negative health outcomes.

Secular Increases in Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage during Pregnancy: A Nationwide Sample Analysis

Importance: Understanding of the epidemiology, outcomes, and management of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) during pregnancy is limited. Small, single center series suggest a slight increase in morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine if incidence of sSAH in pregnancy is increasing nationally and also to study the outcomes for this patient population. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the years 2002-2014 for sSAH hospitalizations. The NIS is a large administrative database designed to produce nationally weighted estimates. Female patients age 15-49 with sSAH were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 430. Pregnancy and maternal diagnosis were identified using pregnancy related ICD codes validated by previous studies. The Cochran-Armitage trend test and parametric tests were utilized to analyze temporal trends and group comparisons. Main Outcomes and Measures: National trend for incidence of sSAH in pregnancy, age, and race/ethnicity as well as associated risk factors and outcomes. Results: During the time period, there were 73,692 admissions for sSAH in women age 15-49 years, of which 3978 (5.4%) occurred during pregnancy. The proportion of sSAH during pregnancy hospitalizations increased from 4.16 % to 6.33% (P-Trend < .001) during the 12 years of the study. African-American women (8.19%) and Hispanic (7.11%) had higher rates of sSAH during pregnancy than whites (3.83%). In the NIS data, the incidence of sSAH increased from 5.4/100,000 deliveries (2002) to 8.5/100,000 deliveries (2014; P-Trend < .0001). The greatest increase in sSAH was noted to be among pregnant African-American women from (13.4 [2002]) to (16.39 [2014]/100,000 births). Mortality was lower in pregnant women (7.69% versus 17.37%, P < .0001). Pregnant women had a higher likelihood of being discharged to home (69.78% versus 53.66%, P < .0001) and lower likelihood of discharge to long term facility (22.4% versus 28.7%, P < .0001) than nonpregnant women after sSAH hospitalization. Conclusions and Relevance: There is an upward trend in the incidence of sSAH occurring during pregnancy. There was disproportionate increase in incidence of sSAH in the African American and younger mothers. Outcomes were better for both pregnant and nonpregnant women treated at teaching hospitals and in pregnant women in general as compared to nonpregnant women.

Food Insecurity and Maternal Mental Health among African American Single Mothers Living with HIV/AIDS in the Alabama Black Belt.

Little is known about the relationship between food insecurity and depression among African American low-income single mothers living with HIV/AIDS in rural Alabama. Food insecurity is a neglected variable in bioethics, biomedical, behavioral, and health disparities research. Regression analyses of data from a survey of African American single mothers living with HIV/AIDS in Alabama's Black Belt were used to evaluate the association between food insecurity and depression. As determined by the USDA food insecurity scale, about 53% of the sample was classified as food insecure. In the bivariate regression model, food insecurity was associated with depression. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, food insecurity remained positively associated with depression in this sample. Food insecurity places low-income African American women at risk of depression. Given widespread poverty among HIV-positive individuals in the Black Belt, access to food should be considered in HIV-related prescriptions and in health disparities research.

Studying the Racial and Ethnicity Effects on Breastfeeding for Adolescent Mothers: Healthcare Policy Implications

According to the American Association of Pediatrics on the racial and ethnic differences of breastfeeding adolescent mother’s show that a total of 696 Latino, African and Caucasian adolescent mothers under the age of 18 were studied. The study highlighted the factors that influence adolescent mothers to breastfeed. These results were reported that majority of the Mexican American mothers were likely to breastfeed. The decision to breastfeed stated 55% of MexicanAmerican, 45% of Caucasian, and 15% of African-American adolescent mothers did in fact breastfeed. With the exception of perceived benefits of breastfeeding and exposure to educational materials, most factors associated with breastfeeding differed by race/ethnicity. Among Mexican-Americans, important factors included feeding advice. The feeding preference of a partner or mother and feeding decisions were made in early pregnancy. Among African-Americans, important factors included living with a partner, having a mother who breastfed. The feeding preference of a partner or health care provider and low family support was a factor. Among Caucasians, health care providers' feeding preference having two or more breastfeeding role models not being enrolled in Women, Infants, and Children's Supplemental Nutrition Program having relied on infant-feeding advice was associated with the decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this study is to focus on racial and ethnic differences when it comes to breastfeeding. As adolescent mothers, women have to decide what best is for their children. Therefore, it is important to have information available to best help them decide despite cultural biases. Specific members of the adolescent’s support systems that were identified in this study as important to her feeding decision. Medical and Social Groups must focus on the benefits of breastfeeding and being able to address concerns and refute fallacies common to young mothers specific to each racial/ethnic group. Also identified is the need to incorporate plenty of educational reading materials. Finally, a special effort must be made to overcome biases in the health care system by training health care professionals to encourage breastfeeding among all adolescent mothers, including African-Americans. Remain adhere of involvements could target both the adolescent mother and her support system.

Facebook support for breastfeeding mothers: A comparison to offline support and associations with breastfeeding outcomes.

ObjectivesFor breastfeeding mothers, online support groups through Facebook may be a more convenient and preferred source for accessing breastfeeding information and support, but few studies exist that examine the use of Facebook groups specifically for breastfeeding support. This study explores the sources of support among users of Facebook breastfeeding support groups and a possible mechanism by which support received on Facebook may translate to behavioral outcomes among breastfeeding mothers.MethodsFrom July–September 2017 a survey was distributed online to African American mothers (N = 277) who participate in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. The survey assessed network support from Facebook and other sources of breastfeeding support, perceived breastfeeding norms, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes. Correlations and linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between covariates and outcome variables.ResultsThe average intended breastfeeding duration among participants in this study was 19 months. Participants reported the highest amount of breastfeeding support received from their Facebook support group, in comparison to other sources of support, and Facebook support was significantly correlated with intended breastfeeding duration (p < 0.05). Self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes remained significant predictors of intended breastfeeding duration within the final regression model.ConclusionsBreastfeeding support received within Facebook groups may compensate for inadequate support received within mothers’ networks. More research is needed to understand the mechanism through which Facebook support may contribute to prolonged breastfeeding durations.

Milk Money: Race, Gender, and Breast Milk “Donation”

In 2014, the bioscience corporation Medolac Laboratories partnered with the Clinton Global Initiative, signing a Commitment to Action to increase breastfeeding rates among African American women. Medolac proposed to pay women in Detroit, Michigan, to donate their excess breast milk, arguing that women would breastfeed longer and earn enough money to delay reentry into the workforce. The program spurred resistance in the city of Detroit, where critics argued that it would exploit African American mothers without considering the historical and contemporary politics of breastfeeding and the commodification of black women’s reproductive labor. Through an analysis of the organization itself, and the resistance to the initiative in Detroit, this essay argues that Medolac’s proposed program reflects the continued exploitation of the reproductive labor of women of color in the United States and encourages an individualized, neoliberal focus on health at the expense of reproductive justice.