Breastfeeding is Good for a Mother's Heart

University of Pittsburgh Studies Impact of Breastfeeding on Mother's Health
News that breastfeeding has many benefits for babies is nothing new. Breastfeeding passes on antibodies, protecting the baby against bacteria and viruses. Further, breastfeeding protects
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Breastfeeding is Good for a Mother's Heart
Date: April 24, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA
United States of America
against obesity. Recently, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have completed a new study that concludes breastfeeding is beneficial for the mother as well.

The University of Pittsburgh study which will be published in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology focused on the breastfeeding history of nearly 140,000 middle-aged mothers, all in their 50s.

The researchers found that breastfeeding protects women from heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Amazingly the study has found that women who breastfeed for more than a year are up to 20% less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

"Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, so it's vitally important for us to know what we can do to protect ourselves," said Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh study also found that even a single month of breastfeeding lowers the risk of many health issues which can lead to heart disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. As such Dr. Schwarz commented "The longer a mother nurses her baby, the better for both of them... Our study provides another good reason for workplace policies to encourage women to breastfeed their infants."

While the results of the University of Pittsburgh study clearly point to there being health advantages for mothers who breastfeed, the study also indicated that the health benefits faded as some women aged due to other variables such as diet and low levels of physical activity which "could potentially overtake the effect of having breastfed when she was younger," according to Dr. Schwarz.

Dr Schwartz said: "Breastfeeding is an important part of the way women's bodies recover from pregnancy. When this process is interrupted, women are more likely to have a number of health problems."