Ohio Department of Health

30/07/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Breastmilk: ‘Liquid Gold’ for Your Baby

Andrea Schlueter had no idea breastmilk was best for her baby. But when the young mom-to-be enrolled in the Ohio Women, Infants, & Children Program (WIC), she quickly learned why health and nutrition experts call breastmilk "liquid gold."

"I was amazed - I couldn't believe how packed full of nutrients, vitamins, and antibodies it contained," said Andrea, a Paulding County resident in Northwest Ohio. "It also has just the right amount of protein, fat, and other essentials for the baby's healthy development."

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the benefits of human milk while also working to protect, promote, and support lactation practices and policies. The 2024 theme is Nourish, Sustain, Thrive. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) promotes breastfeeding as an important part of one's nutrition journey, a strong start that can lay a foundation for long-term success.

"There's overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding provides outstanding nutritional value to babies, as well as many other benefits to baby and mom alike," said ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA. "That's why we join the American Academy of Pediatrics in recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for two years or longer with other nutritious foods."

Research suggests infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of:

  • Asthma.
  • Childhood obesity.
  • Type 2 diabetes.
  • Ear infections.
  • Respiratory infections.
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
  • Diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm infants.

Breastmilk also contains substances that naturally soothe your baby, and its composition changes over time to meet your baby's specific nutritional needs.

Andrea, now a certified lactation specialist and breastfeeding peer with Ohio WIC, called breastfeeding "a transformative experience."

"It strengthened my bond with my boys, and it empowered me to discover newfound confidence within myself," she said. "It helped me achieve my pre-pregnancy weight, and it reduced my risk for certain kinds of cancers. I could go on and on about the benefits of breastfeeding."

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