Much of the discussion about the benefits of breastfeeding focuses on the baby, which is, of course, right and normal but what about the other partner in the breastfeeding dyad?
New studies are being published on a regular basis about the ways breastfeeding benefits mothers. We already know about the positive health effects of breastfeeding on maternal breast and ovarian cancer rates, as well as the reduction in osteoporosis and Type 2 Diabetes. Now, a study has shown that women who breastfeed their babies are far less likely to experience a heart attack or stroke many years later. How amazing that breastfeeding could continue to have positive effects for the whole family, by protecting the health of future grandmothers! That’s less stress for those breastfed babies, when they are grown into the busy years of careers and parenting their own children!
The evidence that was analysed comes from the massive Women’s Health Initiative trial in the U.S. and involved nearly 140,000 women; ages 50-79 at the time of the study. Researchers found that women who had breastfed were less likely, after menopause, to have developed high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Canadian women.
“Ours is the first study that shows that there really is a strong effect in terms of preventing heart attacks and stroke for women who nursed for more than six months,” said Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
Women who had breastfed for one to six months had less diabetes, less high blood pressure and less high cholesterol, all known risk factors for heart disease. Those who breastfed for seven months or more were significantly less likely to have actually developed cardiovascular disease compared to women who had never breastfed. Women who breastfed for a lifetime total of at least 12 months were 10 per cent less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke or developed heart disease when they were older. The finding held after researchers took age, income, body mass index, diet, physical activity, family history of heart disease and other factors into account.
One theory proposed to explain this finding is that breastfeeding lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by mobilizing fat stores. When women don’t breastfeed, or express breast milk, the body fat stored up during pregnancy isn’t used as nature intended it to be (to support lactation).
However, this study found that the lower rates of cardiovascular disease were still present after BMI was accounted for; heavier women still had lower rates of disease. This indicates that lactation does more than simply reduce a woman’s fat stores. It is possible that the hormones of lactation, such as oxytocin, may have an effect on cardiovascular profiles.
Dr. Schwarz said, “Breastfeeding has an important role in the way women’s bodies recover from pregnancy. I think what we’re seeing is that when this process is interrupted by women feeding their babies things other than human milk, women are more likely to have a number of health problems.”
When you are sitting and breastfeeding your infant or toddler, grandchildren are probably the furthest thing from your mind. As I watch my grandchildren at play, the days breastfeeding their father seems like only yesterday. I finding it amazing and exciting that he and I are still reaping health benefits from our breastfeeding time together.
Source: La Leche League Canada
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