Breast-feeding rates are increasing each year, but a gaping disparity between Black women and women of other races remains.  Nationally, according to recent federal data, there is an 18 percent gap between white and black mothers who have ever breast-fed.

Although an increasing number of U.S. hospitals and other birthing centers now encourage women to breast-feed and teach them how, other common practices by staff hinder moms from sticking with it.