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Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:44:14 -0400 |
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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
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