Most everyone knows that breastfeeding has myriad benefits for the growing baby. But did you know that breastfeeding has many benefits for the mother also? Now we can add improved long-term heart and brain health for the breastfeeding mom.

Breastfeeding has been robustly linked to reduced maternal risk of

• breast cancer,
• ovarian cancer, and
• type 2 diabetes.

Now it appears breastfeeding reduces the mother’s cardiovascular risk also.

Healio reports, “Women who ever breastfed during their lifetime were less likely to develop CVD (cardiovascular disease), CHD (coronary heart disease), or stroke, or die of cardiovascular-related causes compared with parous women who never breastfed, data from a meta-analysis show.”

“It’s important for women to be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for their babies’ health and also their own personal health,” one of the researchers said in a press release.

“Moreover, these findings from high-quality studies conducted around the world highlight the need to encourage and support breastfeeding, such as breastfeeding-friendly work environments, and breastfeeding education and programs for families before and after giving birth.”

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2022. This blog provides healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.