Women's Health
"I'm going to use the formula God gave me": The Role of the Black Church in Breastfeeding Support for Black Mothers
Kaylee A Palomino , Shemeka Thorpe , Valerie P A Verty , Natalie Malone , Danelle Stevens-Watkins
April 4, 2026 at 6:25:26 AM
Abstract
Introduction: Black women face several obstacles in breastfeeding promotion, education, support, and continuation. The Black church symbolizes a powerful beacon of health and advocacy within the Black community. However, there are limited studies that investigate the impact of the church on Black women's breastfeeding practices and experiences. This study examines how the Black church influences Black women's breastfeeding experiences.
Methods: Three breastfeeding cohorts of Black women in Kentucky (n = 15) completed 45-60-minute individual semi-structured qualitative interviews on their breastfeeding initiation, sources of support, challenges, successes, and healthcare experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results: Five themes captured how the church influenced Black women's breastfeeding experiences: (1) Reflecting breastfeeding as normal in church, (2) Designated spaces for breastfeeding, (3) Breastfeeding etiquette at church, (4) The role of elders, and (5) Breastfeeding as a natural or spiritual choice.
Discussion: Findings emphasize the Black church's unique and advantageous position in supporting nursing women by normalizing breastfeeding and fostering advocacy through partnerships with health organizations. Such efforts have the potential to address breastfeeding disparities and advance health equity for Black women by aligning support with their cultural and communal values.
As a teen, I remember seeing a mom breastfeed in church for the first time, and some of my family members and other churchgoers were upset and deemed it inappropriate, and decided to talk to the first lady about it. Instead of feeling supported, that mother felt shamed.
So, of course, when Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins created the SPEAK study, I was happy to see that participants shared their experiences with breastfeeding while attending church. This new manuscript, led by Kaylee Palomino, highlights why churches must be spaces that support mothers, not silence them. Breastfeeding is shaped by the environments we move through, including our spiritual and religious spaces.