#ChocolateMilk

Before I got pregnant, I knew I would breastfeed my baby. I didn’t put much thought into the decision really. I wasn’t shy—I showered in front of strangers at the gym and skinny dipped on Miami Beach one drunk and crazy night. So, whipping out my breast in public to feed my child wouldn’t be an issue. And once I heard the saying, Breast is Best, I made up my mind. I later researched the long list of breastfeeding benefits and knew breast milk would be on the menu.

I assumed I would be like the land of Milk and Honey I read about in the Bible. While pregnant, I went up several bra cup sizes. I mean, my sister’s boobs filled up like water balloons, and she stocked a freezer with bags of breast milk. My nephew guzzled down bottles months after she returned to work. But when I delivered my daughter and held her up to my chest, I barely produced a snack let alone a meal. I wanted to cry.

The pediatrician who checked over my daughter told me that nursing’s not for everyone, and that I should feed my daughter formula. I ignored her advice (and later found a new doctor!)  I was determined to at least try. The hospital sent a lactation consultant to my room to help. She eased my anxieties and assured me that I don’t need to pump out a gallon of breast milk to be a breast feeder. It was a supply and demand kind of deal. So I sat up and pumped out a few drops of colostrum. I later nursed my little girl for 10 months. I wanted to finish the year, but I underwent a surgery and took antibiotics. My daughter made a smooth transition to formula. (While nursing, I saved the formula coupons and sample I received in the mail!) I lost 50 pounds and treated my daughter’s infant acid reflux—breast milk is much gentler than formula for tiny tummies. Although I wasn’t uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, I covered up with a Hooter Hider. I didn’t feed my daughter in a bathroom stall, but I also didn’t stand on a soapbox flashing folks.

I never filled up lots of bottles, but I filled my baby’s belly with lots of nutrients. I think nursing is the reason why my toddler today eats everything from sushi to guacamole.

I get why people can’t breastfeed due to health issues. But I don’t understand why more women won’t try it out. One of my cousin’s told me she didn’t want to stop smoking marijuana. Another said if she knew the weight loss benefit—I told her breast milk was my Slim Fast, she would have tried it. Some moms don’t nurse due to a lack of education. Others opt for formula, because their partners won’t support their breastfeeding decision. And many quit early on when relatives tell them they aren’t feeding their babies enough milk.

According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breastfeeding rates improved nationwide in 2000-2008, and some of the largest gains were among African-American mothers. However, only about 59 percent of black moms breastfed in 2008, compared to 80 percent of Hispanics and 75 percent of whites.

That’s why Diary of a First Time Mom is launching a #ChocolateMilk campaign. We’re aiming to increasing our numbers!

So throughout August, in celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I will publish a new nursing story each day, written by 31 black mom bloggers.  I asked each blogger to submit a personal breastfeeding story, and they immediately emailed their experiences—both good and bad. They wrote about everything from allergies and ignorance to pumping and working. I wanted to curate this collection to educate other African-American women about breastfeeding. That way, they will be armed with information to make a decision.

I hope you will join our movement on Twitter. Be sure to follow @dearmomdiary and the particpants. Check out my list of black mom bloggers!  Be sure to tweet using #ChocolateMilk. And don’t forget to share your story by filling out this form.

Meanwhile, let us know in the comment box below why you nursed—or didn’t.