What are the benefits of breast feeding to the mother?

There is a lot of research showing the health benefits of breast milk to babies, 
but what about the mother?  There isn’t a lot of research showing what the 
benefits are to the mother.  Certainly a mom wants to have a happy, healthy 
baby, but if she knows the benefits of breast feeding for her, she might be 
more inclined to breast feed.

One advantage I found is that in breast feeding, oxytocin is released which 
causes uterine contractions.  In post-partum mom’s this is important because 
it prevents postpartum hemorrhaging and promotes uterine involution.  Breast 
feeding mom’s if they strictly breast feed only, can also delay the return of 
there menstrual cycle.  Who wouldn’t love that?

From my instructor and from research, I have also found that strict breast 
feeding is also a from of contraception with 98 to 99 percent prevention of 
pregnancy in the first six months.  This is documented research.  Another 
major bonus!

There are many long term benefits of breast feeding as well, including a 
decreased risk of many types of cancer, optimal metabolic profiles and 
psychological benefits.  Breast feeding moms have an edge on losing weight 
post partum since their caloric intake is being depleted from the production 
and excretion of breast milk.  This also helps with diabetic moms.  Moms who 
breast feed have lower glucose levels than non-breast feeding moms.  

Ovarian and uterine cancers have been found to be more common in women 
who did not breastfeed than those that did breast feed.  This may be due to 
higher levels of estrogen from not breast feeding.  It is now estimated that 
breastfeeding from six to 24 months throughout a mother's reproductive 
lifetime may reduce the risk of breast cancer by 11 to 25 percent (Lyde 1989; 
Newcomb 1994).  

What do you think?  Do you have anything to add to this?  I am unable to 
have children and the thought of breast feeding used to be repulsive to me, 
but now that I am educated in the benefits to both mom and baby, I can see 
why many women choose to do this.  I personally think more women should be 
educated in the advantages to them. 

Jennifer Dedrich,
Ivy Tech Student Nurse
Indianapolis, IN

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]