Boots on the Ground: Rooted in Breastfeeding Success, Grounded in Community Support
Introduction: Honouring This Year's Theme
Each August 25–31, Black Breastfeeding Week honours the strength and resilience of Black mothers navigating breastfeeding journeys. This year’s theme, “Boots on the Ground: Rooted in Breastfeeding Success, Grounded in Community Support” brings intentional focus to the ways community presence and solidarity nurture lasting breastfeeding success
Why “Boots on the Ground” Matters
Ground-Level Impact
The "boots on the ground" phrase brings to mind actual, active community involvement from doulas, family members, lactation groups, and peer networks all contributing to a mother's confidence and success. This resonates deeply: success in breastfeeding isn’t solitary, it flourishes in connection and allyship.Connecting History to Hope
The theme also carries weight in acknowledging history. Generations of forced wet-nursing and systemic racism have cast long shadows over breastfeeding in Black communities. Today’s gathering of community support, rooted firmly in cultural awareness and healing helps to reclaim and reshape that narrative.
The Role of the Doula: Your Community, Your Anchor
As a doula, you embody the essence of “boots on the ground.” You provide:
Culturally attuned care — acknowledging and working through historical trauma, while fuelling empowerment.
Practical encouragement — you remind mothers that “your body is enough”; you help them latch, pump, rest, and feel celebrated.
Community connection — you connect them with support groups, peer circles, and local resources where solidarity becomes strength.
Much like the stories shared at LATCH Café, where mothers reflected how community members would:
Remind them to pump,
Stay with them while pumping,
Affirm, “Your body is enough. You are doing great”
And simply say, “Don’t quit”
Building Community That Lasts
Storytelling & Visibility
Encourage mothers and new parents to share their breastfeeding and chestfeeding journeys even if they are the first in generations to do so. This dynamic storytelling reshapes community norms and builds intergenerational support structures.Local Gatherings & Events
Organize or promote “boots on the ground” meetups such as coffee mornings, peer support groups, or lactation-friendly cafes. Events like those at LATCH Café demonstrate how community spaces cultivate solidarity and collective momentum.Education & Access
Link families to Black-led lactation professionals, culturally aligned IBCLCs, and accessible public health workshops to bolster both skills and trust.
