Asian Breastfeeding Task Force In Tribune
Sunday, August 4, 2019
TEMPLE CITY—Photo exhibitions put focus on breastfeeding
By Stephanie Lai
slai@scng.com<mailto:slai@scng
Amanda Reyes chose to breastfeed her children despite the stigma her family
associated with it.
Reyes, a Filipina American and Porter Ranch resident, received disdain from
her mother because in the Philippines, only low-income mothers breastfeed
their children. It was a matter of status.
Mothers with money are expected to buy formula, but Reyes said in a phone
interview that she felt compelled to breastfeed her two children who both
were born premature.
“Both my sons are built so tough, and I think it’s because of the breast
milk,” she said.
She was not, however, always so confident about breastfeeding.
Upon her now-6-year-old son’s birth, she didn’t know how to produce milk and
felt discouraged because she didn’t have the support, Reyes said. Unsure of
where to turn, Reyes joined several Facebook groups and later found the Asian Breastfeeding Task
Force of Los Angeles.
Now she has teamed up with 16 other mothers as models for a photo exhibit
curated by the Asian Breastfeeding Task Force in Downtown L.A. and Temple
City, which opened Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.
As a part of National Breastfeeding Month, the exhibit will be up for one
month and aims to normalize breastfeeding among Asian families by
illustrating its beauty, coordinator To-wen Tseng said in a phone interview.
Los Angeles Arts District resident Iren Siosan, another Filipina mother who
participated in the exhibit, also felt family pressure against the practice
but ultimately chose to breastfeed her children because there are fewer
risks to premature, breastfed babies’ health, she said in a phone interview.
The social stigma, coupled with lack of resources, have hindered Asian
mother’s ability to successfully breastfeed, Tseng, a San Diego resident,
said.
According to the Asian Breastfeeding Task Force, nearly of Asian Americans
in San Gabriel Valley are limited English proficient, and less than 6% of
lactation professionals in Los Angeles County speak an Asian language.
The photo exhibit was funded by grants with HealthConnect One Foundation’s
Birth Equity Leadership Academy and the office of L.A. Councilwoman Nury
Martinez.
Tseng said the task force hired a professional photographer who had creative
rein over the mothers and their children.
“When we were organizing this project, the ! venues were concerned about how
the public would view the images,” Tseng said. “So we’re aware that the
stigma is still there.”
Siosan said the photos reflect a natural tone.
The task force also created 17 videos,Tseng sai, to accompany the photos
that will be released periodically throughout the month.
The videos also showcase the reasons the participating mothers chose to
breastfeed their children and the barriers they have faced.
Siosan didn’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, noting an instance
in Bistro Na, a Michelin star restaurant in Temple City.
She said people at the table next to her were glaring when her husband
chimed in: “What’s wrong, man? He’s eating, just like you,” she reported him
saying.
The photographs from the Asian Breastfeeding Task Force of Los Angeles
County, which are also shown at Los Angeles City Hall, are meant to help
normalize breastfeeding in the Asian American community.
