A new national study reveals that while more mothers of preterm infants are providing breast milk than a decade ago, significant racial and ethnic disparities remain—particularly for Black mothers. Researchers analyzed data from over 1.5 million mother-infant pairs between 2009 and 2019 and found that Black mothers had the lowest rates of both initiating and continuing breast milk provision at 12 weeks postpartum.
Initiation rates were highest among Asian mothers (92.8%), followed by Hispanic (88.1%), White (84.1%), and Black mothers (75.3%). Continuation at 12 weeks showed a similar pattern, with Asian mothers again leading (65.4%) and Black mothers trailing (34.3%). Although initiation and continuation improved over time for Black and White mothers, the disparity between them did not significantly change.
After adjusting for factors like education, insurance, and maternal health, the differences between Black and White mothers were no longer statistically significant. This suggests that systemic barriers—such as lower access to quality lactation support, implicit bias in neonatal intensive care units, and socioeconomic challenges—play a major role.
“These findings emphasize the need for targeted support,” said lead author Dr. Nikita Kalluri. The study also noted that Black mothers are more likely to have preterm infants, compounding the health risks for both mother and child when breastfeeding support is lacking.
The authors call for policies that address structural inequities and improve access to breastfeeding resources, especially during the critical early weeks after birth.
See “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mother’s Milk Provision Among Mothers of Preterm Infants “(May 16, 2025)
