Heart Health for Breastfeeding Mothers

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:16:02 +0000

Researchers have long known that breastfeeding mothers benefit from less incidence of breast and ovarian cancer and type II diabetes than formula-feeding mothers. A new study shows yet more strong correlation between breastfeeding and lower rates of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Photo courtesy of Karen Barefoot

Nearly 140,000 post-menopausal women were studied in the Women’s Health Initiative. According to the Vancouver Sun (via One Small Step for Breastfeeding…), the study revealed breastfeeding’s heart health benefits on three levels:

1. Risk Factors. Women who breastfed their babies had lower incidence of the following three risk factors for heart disease: diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

2. Cardiovascular Disease. Women who had never breastfed were significantly more likely to develop heart disease than women who breastfed for seven months or more.

3. Heart Attack and Stroke. Women who breastfed for a cumulative 12 months or more in their lifetimes had a 10% lower incidence of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease later in life.

Researcher Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD told WebMD:

The longer women nursed babies, the less likely they were to develop diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. Any breastfeeding was good, but more was better.

The complete study appears in the May 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Breastfeeding Helps Protect Mothers from Heart Attacks

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:14:28 +0000

A study out of Harvard Medical School indicates that breastfeeding for a total of at least two years reduces a woman’s heart attack risk by 19 percent! The study followed nearly 100,000 nurses who gave birth between 1998 and 2002. Those who breastfed for at least two years were 19 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who did not breastfeed.

The Telegraph quotes study leader Alison Steube:

“Pregnancy is associated with a number of things that you normally wouldn’t want to happen to your body including storing more fat and having higher than normal levels of fatty acids circulating in the blood. By breastfeeding, mothers can convert those energy reserves into nutrition for their infants.

Breastfeeding isn’t just good for babies, it’s good for mothers, too.”

Of course I think this is great news, although I realize women are not going to base their decision whether or not to breastfeed on the fact that it reduces heart attack risk. It’s just a nice little reward for those who do decide to breastfeed.

What scares the heck out of me is that like the nurses in the study, I gave birth in 2002. I’m among a group of women who are having heart attacks?! Thank goodness I’ve been breastfeeding for a total of almost five years! Thank goodness I exercise and eat well!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » heart-attack

Heart Health for Breastfeeding Mothers

Breastfeeding Helps Protect Mothers from Heart Attacks