You've heard that breastfeeding helps protect mothers against diabetes and breast cancer. Now a new study shows that women who breastfeed for over a year have a 10% lower risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke than non- or short term breastfeeders.
Researcher Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz said of this discovery:
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 (including heart attacks and strokes). The longer a mother nurses her baby, the better for both of them.
But don't fret: even those who breastfeed for a month may get the bonus of slightly lower cholesterol level and a lower risk for diabetes and high blood pressure.
We have numerous reasons that we breastfeed our kids for their health: fewer ear and gastrointestinal infections, breathing problems in premature girls, and the lower risk of diabetes, obesity. Not to mention a higher IQ; the "5 points" figure is the most cited, but may be at the low end. More IQ points (even a couple) are definitely a bonus for any special needs child.
Those may be the reasons we graciously tick off to anyone who wrinkles their nose, "You're still breastfeeding?!"
But let's be honest: it's all about us. We love to bond with our children, and we think that this is a pretty easy, economical way. (Even if little fingers stray up to our keyboards once in a while.) There are health benefits that have been pretty widely accepted for moms, let alone our offspring. Now the latest: Breastfeeding helps our hearts.
But we knew that. With every little sleepy sigh and nipple half out of baby's mouth, we knew that this was good for our hearts.
Let's go over the list again, shall we?
- Rest Easy. Both parents of breastfed babies, but especially mothers, get more sleep.
- Taste it: Babies who are breastfed may have a better food palette. It's no wonder why Baby E loves garlic, as every meal in this house revolves around it.
- Gasp...Premature baby girls (more than boys) have fewer respiratory infections if they are breastfed.
- Weigh In. Breastfeeding may help you recover your body faster after pregnancy. I mean, besides having that extra 8 pounds attached to it 'round the clock.
- Smart kids. I mentioned IQ. Some dispute this. But a randomized study, adjusting for mothers' IQ, indeed saw a benefit for kids, who scored better on a variety on intelligence tests. (I hope my sisters now understand why I'm the smartest; I breastfed the longest. And now for that, I understand why I might get a beat-down at the next reunion.)
- The Earth is Round, Too...Coincidence? Breastmilk already comes in these fancy packages, so you are cutting down on the waste of packaging when you avoid formula.
- Chemula.Formula may contain melamine, rocket fuel, and bisphenol-A, all of which have their own fabulous health consequences. Let's go ahead and avoid dosing our children with these chemicals...m'kay?
- Time In. Fewer behavior problems for children who were breastfed as babies.
The adorable image: Alexander Tunkadov on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
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