Breastfed babies are less likely to have certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adulthood than their bottle-fed counterparts, researchers reported at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2007.

“Breastfeeding babies offers them long-term heart-health benefits,” American Heart Association news, November 5, 2007.

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!