Cardiovascular and heart health benefits for the breastfeeding mom

Mother and baby. PHOTO: Debbie Rancher

We've all seen the data.  A huge body of evidence supports the fact that breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for babies.  But what about the health benefits for mom? 

Breastfeeding may help you get back into your skinny jeans a lot faster (it burns an average of 500 calories a day).  But breastfeeding moms everywhere may already know the rewards go above and beyond mere vanity;  the emotional satisfaction of the bonding experience and the intimacy of nursing is unmatched.  And the list of benefits goes on.

According to womenshealth.gov, moms that breastfeed have a lower risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, postpartum depression and type II diabetes.   Other studies are revealing that there may also be a link between breastfeeding and improved cardiovascular health.

The latest study published in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that the longer women had breastfed, the lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as other factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.   The study was conducted on 139,681 postmenopausal women.  For those that had breastfed for more than 12 months throughout their lifetime, there was close to a 10% reduction in these events.

For more information, visit Medline Plus

Journal Reference: Obstetrics & Gynecology:
May 2009 - Volume 113 - Issue 5 - pp 974-982   Duration of Lactation and Risk Factors for Maternal Cardiovascular Disease