Why is 'Liquid Gold' Important in Breast Feeding?

'Liquid Gold' is the colostrum found in breast milk of the mother immediately after the child is born. It contains nutrients and antibodies which is essential for the baby.

When mothers and supporting care givers are not educated about the importance of colostrum they are not likely to give this 'liquid gold' to the child. A study by Michigan State University has shown that Chinese-American mothers didn't know the importance and colostrum and they had the habit of introducing other liquids such as formula or sugar water to the baby. Breast feeding is essential for child's growth upto 6 months and women who received such information had a positive attitude towards breast feeding. Goldbort suggests that it’s up to healthcare providers to ensure that mothers are given the proper education on breastfeeding before birth.

The study, titled “Promoting Sustained and Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Chinese American Pregnant Women,” was recently published in the Journal of Health Communication. Goldbort worked alongside Dr. Mary Bresnahan, professor in the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences; Elizabeth Bogdin-Lovis, assistant director of the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences in the MSU College of Human Medicine; Dr. Jie Zhang, an assistant professor in the Texas Christian University College of Communication; and Xioudi Yan, a Ph.D. student in the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences.