August 2023 Issue: BBFW 2023 is HERE!
In this issue: Black Breast/Chest Feeding Week 2023
Welcome to Black Breast/Chestfeeding Week! Our 2023 campaign, co-sponsored by the South LA/South Bay Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) and the LA County AAIMM Prevention Initiative has now officially launched and we are looking forward to spreading awareness of Black Breast/Chestfeeding throughout the week and beyond. This campaign is also made possible through the support, guidance, information, and resources provided by partners BreastfeedLA, CinnaMoms and March of Dimes.
In this email, please find resources that can be shared to support our efforts and help spread the word about the theme of our campaign: “Let's Grow the Village of Safe Spaces to Breast/Chestfeed,” with supporting sub-themes around breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and pumping.
The terms "breastfeeding" and "chestfeeding" are used interchangeably and together to describe the action of feeding an infant human-milk. The term "chestfeeding" is offered as an alternate term for lactating persons who prefer not to use the term "breast" when referring to their own bodies. This is the AAIMM Prevention Initiative’s commitment to caring authentically about the well-being of all individuals and to inclusivity (adapted from BreastfeedLA).
Resources include:
- Safe Space Directory
- Events Calendar Link
- Social Media Resources
August 2023 Issue: BMHW, Our 2023 Theme & MORE!
In this Issue:
The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative is proudly supporting the sixth celebration of Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), April 11-17, which was once again recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and April 16, 2023
proclaimed “The Day of the Black Infant."
Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. This year’s AAIMM campaign and activities for Black Maternal Health Week serve to amplify the voices of Black Mamas/Birthing Persons and center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.
Our goal is to shine a spotlight on the urgent need to uplift Black families as we continue working to grow our village of support for Black mamas/birthing persons and their infants.
From Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA):
We are thrilled to reveal the official theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (#BMHW23): “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” In light of the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., which recent data shows has been exacerbated by the pandemic; and amidst growing cases of clear neglect in care in hospital systems immediately after labor and delivery, BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions. Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants and desires of Black women and birthing people.
The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative is aligning our 2023 campaign with messaging around the importance of growing the greater village of support around Black women/birthing persons before, during, and after birth in order to help support healthy and joyous birthing outcomes. As we support the efforts of BMMA during BMHW, we will also be sharing events from organizations within our network — including those hosted by our AAIMM Community Action Teams — creating social media posts and digital content, and providing information, which will enable us to get closer to our goal of bringing about more equitable birthing outcomes for ALL women.
Please check our website hub this week for all event listings and other information, and feel free to share the link with your Village, and check our events calendar below:
Read moreWorld Doula Week 2022
Happy World Doula Week (March 22-28), a week in which we celebrate the people who labor alongside us throughout the entirety of the birthing journey, creating space for joy and liberation within the pregnancy experience. We salute some of our most valuable Village members this week!
Visit our Doula hub at BlackInfantsAndFamilies.org for more information about doulas, our doula program, profiles on the AAIMM doulas, and for answers to your frequently asked questions
Read moreApril 11, 2020
In this issue: Black Maternal Health Week Virtual Events schedule and information.
Read moreMarch 26, 2020
In this issue: Black Maternal Health Week, COVID-19 guidance related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, Community Action Teams and Doulas!
Read more