Hello there, I’m Shannan Clarke! I am the founder of Queen & Baby, a mom of two (I had my second baby in March 2020), and an advocate for breastfeeding moms in the workplace.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I tried to learn all I could about breastfeeding before my daughter was born. But I could only find local classes and mommy groups with instructors and moms who did not look like me, and who didn’t share my questions and concerns. All the pictures we studied of women breastfeeding were of white women, and none of our discussions about breastfeeding addressed the challenges of racial disparities or racism, the stigma of breastfeeding in the Black community, or medical concerns prevalent in my community like endometriosis, fibroids, and diabetes that could have a direct impact on my milk supply.
What we know is that breastfeeding is really important but it’s not always easy or encouraged, especially for BIPOC. Breastfeeding for less than the recommended timeframe (6+ months) results in $340B in avoidable health care costs and lost earnings worldwide every year.
What we also know is that a person’s breastfeeding or body-feeding journey can be isolating and lonely. When I was nursing my first born, I was the only person breastfeeding in my office, and it was really difficult to find people who understood what I was going through.
Studies show and we know first-hand that finding a community that understands the struggles and the joys of being a breastfeeding parent of color can make all the difference. And, due to the poor maternal health outcomes in the United States for BIPOC, our families need the tools to help us be our own empowered advocates at every step of our journey.
To provide access to information, community, and professionals that reflect our identities and our culture.
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