The Benefits Of Breastfeeding: Lactation And Its Protective Health Benefits For Moms

Save to notebook Email article Print article More articles

By mia bolaris-forget

Many moms look forward to breastfeeding because of the bond it forges between them and their baby; not to mention the health benefits for mother and baby too.

According to recent research, breastfeeding can actually have long-range health benefits for women, guarding them against a condition associated with diabetes and heart disease. In fact, studies suggest that the longer moms breastfeed their babies, the lower their potential of developing metabolic syndrome, which ups their risk for high blood pressure and high triglycerides linked to obesity.

Researchers go on to report that pregnancy may actually increase a woman’s risk for some of these risk factors and that breastfeeding may actually counter some of these potential health risks and effects.

They go on to note that the greatest impact of breastfeeding can be seen in women who experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy, especially in its effect on metabolic syndrome. And, according to statistics pregnant women with gestational diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to experience metabolic syndrome after pregnancy than those who did not.

According to the study, lactation reduced metabolic syndrome risk between 39 to 56% in women who did not experience gestational diabetes; and between 44 and 86% in those who did. The longer these women breast fed, the lower their risk. In addition, breastfeeding has been linked to faster weight loss post pregnancy, and may even be the “key” to minimizing post-gestational belly fat often associated with type 2 diabetes risk.

Long Island Pregnancy Articles > The Benefits Of Breastfeeding: Lactation And Its Protective Health Benefits For Moms