The experience of one woman who chose “somewhat satisfied” with her care on the postnatal ward: “The head midwife told me I was not producing enough colostrum for the baby and encouraged me to bottle/formula feed which then subsequently affected my breastfeeding journey. I felt her bias made her assume I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed properly. However, turns out I was producing enough when I spoke to the lactation consultant the next day.” (F241, Mixed Ethnicity – Black British Caribbean and White, aged 26-35)FivexMore logo
A woman who described experiencing discriminatory behaviour from healthcare professionals: “I noticed the nurses speaking to other new mums about their feeding choices however, in my 12 hours on the ward, nobody came to speak to me about mine and whether I was confident/comfortable with breastfeeding.” FivexMore logo
there were reports of HCPs being “very accommodating”, “one call away”, and “exceptional”: “The nurses were readily available even at odd hours in the night when I needed support with the baby, especially with expressing and breastfeeding as a first-time mum.” (F904, Black British African, aged 26-35). “The care for myself and my baby was top-notch, with regular check-ups on me and baby’s vitals.” (F389, Black British African, aged 26-35) FivexMore logo
This Black Breastfeeding Week, we’re sharing the experiences from Five X More ’s Black Maternity Experiences Survey 2025.
Read the full report and recommendations here:
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💜 If you need breastfeeding support, our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK is here for you - 24/7
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