{"id":361,"date":"2025-10-24T16:46:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T16:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/breastfeeding\/?page_id=361"},"modified":"2026-02-19T18:31:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T18:31:31","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding Homepage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Virginia Department of Health recommends that infants be breastfed for the first six months of life, with a gradual introduction of solid foods at six months. It is also recommended that infants be breastfed for the first year of life and thereafter as long as mutually desired. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)<\/a> recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of age.<\/p>\n

Breastfeeding has several benefits for both mother and infant. Below are many of the health benefits related to breastfeeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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For Baby:<\/h4>\n

Lowers the risk of:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Asthma<\/li>\n
  • Type I Diabetes<\/li>\n
  • Obesity<\/li>\n
  • For preterm infants, Necrotizing Enterocolitis<\/li>\n
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)<\/li>\n
  • Infection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n

\n

For Mom:<\/h4>\n

Lowers the risk of:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • High blood pressure<\/li>\n
  • Certain types of breast and ovarian cancers<\/li>\n
  • Type II Diabetes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    In Virginia, August is recognized as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Virginia Department of Health recommends that infants be breastfed for the first six months of life, with a gradual introduction of solid foods at six months. It is also recommended that infants be breastfed for the first year of life and thereafter as long as mutually desired. 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