I’ve discussed the benefits of breastfeeding provides infants (here, here, and here– among other places). But, now there’s some new data- how breastfeeding helps moms!
Dr. HM Ahmed (Advantage Care Physicians, Brooklyn NY), along with Drs. RM Rameez, D Sadana, S Kaur, J Patel, and T Ahmed (Cleveland Clinic) MS Khan (Cook County), H Rias (Dow Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan), and Ms. S Misbah and MT Simonson (also Cleveland Clinic) published the results of their study, Association of Maternal Lactation with Diabetes and Hypertension in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association).
The study found that moms who breastfed for at least 12 months derived significant health benefits. They were 30% less like to develop type 2 diabetes and 13% less likely to manifest hypertension than those who didn’t. Not just during the breastfeeding period- but for the 10 years AFTER breastfeeding. Some 200,000 moms were included in this analysis.
Pregnancy is often associated with metabolic issues for moms- higher cholesterol and triglycerides as well as glucose intolerance. With the 500 calories a day that are consumed in breastfeeding, moms manifest higher catabolism and better use of the fat stores in their bodies.
The data was derived from examining six separate studies that followed breastfeeding moms for at least 12 months. Four of those studies examined lactation and diabetes (206,204 moms); five examined the effects of lactation on hypertension (255,272 moms).
Ms. Misbah and Simonson (library specialists) were included as contributors because some 1558 articles were scoured to find the 22 studies that were part of the study. These were culled down to 6, even though some data found in the ‘discarded studies’ were useful for the researchers.
Some of those facts in the ‘discarded’ studies were related to diabetes. Those women who breastfed for 3 months manifested more cases of diabetes than those who provided breast milk to their child for 12 months or more. (It’s possible that the diabetes risk is reduced by 14% for each year of breastfeeding. (The data- obviously over multiple children- is not sufficient enough to prove that reduction.)
Breastfeeding may also provide protective effects against atherosclerosis (what non-physicians call the ‘hardening’ of the arteries). This is critical since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women.
Now, let’s make sure all workplaces have space for moms to pump. It’s the law in many states- but not all.
I breastfed, and had to pump in my job’s ladies room. One co worker used to sometimes go in there and make mooing sounds. No joke. Times have changed but not enough.
Wow! I’m sorry to hear about that- even this many years later.
An important topic that gets glossed over most if the time. It’s way past time we as a society made it easier for mom’s to feed their babies and to remove the stigma around this natural function. Thanks for shining a light on this.
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I am with you 100%, Barb! Breastfeeding is critical for the child’s development- and, now, we know it helps mom’s health, too!
I breastfeed both my children ( 46 and 50 years ago) and they went from me to a cup. When my youngest was a year old (she had been on a cup for a few months) she was in the hospital and the nurses kept trying to give her a bottle to get fluids in her. I told them she doesn’t even know what a bottle is and give her a cup. The were so persistant to keep trying. They finally gave her a popsicle but wouln’t even attempt the cup.
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I recall my son and the same situation.
And, I am pretty sure your health has benefited- as have both your children’s!