By Samantha Simmons
Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed your baby, but it’s so much more than just filling their tummy! Breast milk is like magic; it’s packed with the right mix of nutrients that help your little one grow strong and stay healthy. And guess what? Breastfeeding has its perks for moms too!
When babies drink breast milk, they’re getting essential nutrients and antibodies that help protect them from all sorts of infections and diseases. This includes serious stuff like asthma, obesity, and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It’s often called a “living fluid” because it has special cells and antibodies that change to meet your baby’s needs. That’s right—breast milk evolves as your baby grows! This dynamic nature of breast milk makes it a powerful source of nourishment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months to maximize these benefits, which helps to build a strong immune system and establish a healthy gut microbiome. Research shows that babies who are breastfed are less likely to experience illnesses such as gastrointestinal infections, ear infections, and respiratory illnesses.
But the benefits aren’t just for babies; breastfeeding is great for moms too! Studies have shown that breastfeeding can lower the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Moreover, breastfeeding can assist in postpartum weight loss, making it easier for mothers to return to their pre-pregnancy weight. Additionally, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of heart disease later in life. Beyond the physical health benefits, breastfeeding fosters a unique emotional bond between mother and child. This connection enhances the nurturing relationship and can create lasting memories that enrich both the mother’s and baby's lives.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends that mothers breastfeed for at least the first year of the baby's life while introducing other foods around six months. They emphasize that breastfeeding can continue for as long as both the mother and baby desire, as it offers long-term health benefits for both. However, the AAP also recognizes that many women encounter various challenges, such as societal pressure to conform to certain feeding practices, a lack of workplace support, and sometimes physical difficulties that can arise during breastfeeding. These obstacles can make it difficult for mothers to initiate or maintain breastfeeding, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments that empower mothers in their breastfeeding journeys. Breastfeeding can be hard to keep going, so having a supportive community is super important.
Where do you start?
Public health programs can help moms succeed in breastfeeding. Having access to resources, community support, and education can make a big difference. Programs like peer counseling, workshops, and supportive workplace policies can help.
Here in Burke County, we are proud of our WIC Program, which recently received the Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence for 2024 from the USDA. This award shows our commitment to helping mothers interested in breastfeeding, current breastfeeding mothers, and their babies. Our team provides guidance and support to every mom who needs it.
We know that breastfeeding is a personal journey for each mom. Burke County is here to offer the resources and support you need to meet your breastfeeding goals. Whether you’re a new mom thinking about breastfeeding or a mom wanting to try again, remember you’re not alone! The Burke County WIC agency provides breastfeeding aids such as manual and electric breast pumps. WIC also offers a food package for women who exclusively breastfeed their babies. This food package includes tuna or salmon in cans or pouches, as well as additional amounts of beans, cereal, cheese, juice, lentils, milk, peanut butter, peas, and whole grains.
To participate in the peer counseling program for breastfeeding, you must be eligible for the WIC program. WIC eligibility requires you to be categorically eligible, which means you must be pregnant, breastfeeding an infant less than one-year-old, have delivered an infant in the past six months, have an infant between birth and 12 months, or have a child up to age five. You must also live in North Carolina. If you receive Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or NC Food and Nutrition Services, you automatically meet the income requirement. Otherwise, your family income must be less than 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. Additionally, you must be determined to be at nutritional risk, which will be assessed at no cost by a nutritionist. Any person approved for WIC who is either pregnant or breastfeeding an infant is eligible to participate in the Peer Counselor Program.
If you qualify for WIC and want to learn more about breastfeeding or need support, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Burke County WIC department at 828-764-9207. We’re here to help you on your breastfeeding journey!
For more information refer to Breastfeeding Benefits Both Baby and Mom | Breastfeeding | CDC
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