Perhaps one of the most interesting facts about breastfeeding would be that it comes with a ‘double health care package’, one for the breastfed and the other for the ‘breast feeder’ who is usually the mother in most cases.
Although this isn’t true for all mothers, breastfeeding actually helps the mother lose weight. This is especially true after the first 3 months following delivery as multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding mothers will experience a greater rate of calorie loss when compared to mothers who don’t breastfeed. However, it’s always important to keep in mind that diet and exercise are still the most important factors in weight loss, whether lactating or not.
During pregnancy, the foetus grows inside the uterus. This also means that the uterus usually expands a great deal; filling up the abdomen from the size of a small pear it was before. After delivery, the uterus goes through a process known as involution, a reduction in size driven by a hormone oxytocin which increases throughout pregnancy. Oxytocin also encourages uterine contractions and reduces bleeding. It has also been found to increase during breastfeeding, supporting studies that have shown that mothers who breastfeed generally have less blood loss after delivery and faster involution of the uterus.
Mothers who breastfeed have also been found to have a lower risk of post partum depression, a type of depression that can develop shortly after birth and affects up to 15 in 100 mothers. This is also related to the hormone oxytocin which appears to have long term anti-anxiety effects and encourages bonding by affecting specific brain regions that promote nurturing and relaxation.
Women who breastfeed for more than 12 months during their lifetime have a 28% reduced risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Women who breastfeed for 1-2 years over their lifetime have a 10-50% lower risk of hypertension, arthritis, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Suffice it to say therefore that breastfeeding could contribute a lot to prevention of diseases in a breast-feeding mother.
Besides the already discussed benefits, a few other ones such as preventing menstruation especially in the first few months after delivery, saving up time and money are also extra benefits for the breastfeeding mother.
Even as we celebrate the world breastfeeding week (Aug 1-7), mothers are enjoined to choose the healthy option of breastfeeding their babies!
Stay healthy!
Reference: www.healthline.com
