“The matriarch of those in our family who say negative things about breastfeeding, like ‘you’re gay if you’re letting your baby breastfeed,’ … those stigmas are still there in 2021. We’re working to break those,” Williams said.

Additionally, a lack of access to resources, such as lactation consultants and breast pumps, and unfriendly workplace policies make it difficult for women, especially low-income and working moms, to sustain their breastfeeding journey.

Taeshaun Walters, lactation counselor and parent educator at WE PLAY, said it’s time to normalize breastfeeding.

“Social media is a big aspect we can use to our advantage. So many moms, especially teen moms, need to see images. Let’s put pictures of mamas breastfeeding in the city,” she said.

Added Chantell Reed, director of health for the City of New Orleans: “The more we talk about it – the more it’s not sexualized – the stigmas start to come down. We need to make this part of our normal conversation. This has to be the norm. We have to set the tone for this is the foundation as a city, to support babies who are eventually going to grow into good citizens in the city.”

Dr. Tara Morse, OB-GYN at Crescent City Physicians, Inc., a subsidiary of Touro Infirmary, said implicit bias is steeped in the health care system. As an example, Black women more often are pushed to start their babies on formula. She advocated for funding doulas and community partners who support moms and their families, providing breast pumps before babies are born and supporting moms post-partum.