Scholar Stories: Adrienne Brown

By: Dominique Graham

An Interview With Adrienne Brown, Peer Counselor From The Mattapan Hugs & Play Group

Adrienne Brown has three children under five and she breastfed them all.

At 21, she had her first son at Boston Medical Center - a hospital she loves and has a lot of resources.

Although staff offered her formula and pacifiers on the maternity ward, Adrienne requested help in breastfeeding her newborn and thankfully the hospital had a lactation consultant there to help.

During her first moments breastfeeding Adrienne said, “I was actually smothering [my son] with my breasts and I didn’t notice that. So he would latch on and move his nose to breathe.
[The lactation consultant] showed me the correct way to hold him. The football hold, the cradle hold, different holds. And she propped the pillow up for me. From there I got it and I told her ‘Thank you so much!’”

Adrienne noticed that the other young mothers at the hospital prefered the pre-made formula the hospital offered.

“If you know better you’ll do better. And not everyone has the environment, where breastfeeding is normalized. Some people did not grow up with grandmothers or mothers doing that.”

Adrienne talks about her upbringing in another country where breastfeeding is normal.

While Adrienne is grateful to the women she watched growing up who nursed their babies, she also credits The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition for teaching her about the long-term benefits of breastfeeding such as straighter teeth and stronger immune systems.

Watch the full interview to hear Adrienne’s words of encouragement to nursing mothers.

Are you a mom or soon-to-be mother in Mattapan. Stop by the Mattapan Hugs and Play in Mattapan. 

MONDAYS
Mattapan Family and Community Engagement
Hugs and Play Group
Mattapan Library
1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan
​10:30am - 12:30pm
Jenny Weaver RN, IBCLC
Vickey Siggers
(617) 980-0970
Haitian Creole & French speaking

Is Mattapan not convenient? Check out the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition’s calendar to find a support group or baby cafe near you.

About the Author: 
Dominique is a Boston resident, breastfeeding supporter and blogger behind DommiesBlessed.