A recent study conducted in South Australia has revealed the surprising benefits of breastfeeding for maternal health. The study showed that breastfeeding for at least six months can lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in mothers for up to three years after giving birth. This is particularly important for women who have experienced a complicated pregnancy, as they are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
The findings, published in the International Breastfeeding Journal by experts from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, are based on a long-running study of 160 breastfeeding mothers who participated in after-delivery health checks. The study found that women who breastfed for at least six months had lower blood pressure and body-weight recovery (BMI) for up to three years after giving birth.
Professor Claire Roberts, the senior author of the study and leader of the Pregnancy Health and Beyond research group at Flinders University, emphasizes the positive implications for women with pregnancy complications. She states that breastfeeding improves women’s cardiometabolic risk factors and reduces the likelihood of developing future cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
In addition to the benefits for mothers, breastfeeding also has numerous health advantages for babies. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months and continued breastfeeding for at least 12 months to reduce the risk of chronic hypertension and diabetes in women.
The study, led by the University of Adelaide Ph.D. Dr. Maleesa Pathirana and colleagues involved the follow-up of 280 women and their children from the Screening Tests to Predict Outcomes of Pregnancy study. The researchers found that women who breastfed for at least six months had significantly lower body mass index, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and central blood pressure compared to those who did not breastfeed.
Dr. Pathirana highlights the importance of breastfeeding for women with major pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes. These women experienced lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol profiles, and lower insulin levels when breastfeeding for at least six months.
The researchers suggest further investigations in a larger sample size to compare women who breastfeed with those who do not. They also recommend implementing interventions that support breastfeeding, especially in disadvantaged or low socioeconomic areas, to reduce the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease for women with pregnancy complications.
This study sheds light on the long-term benefits of breastfeeding for maternal health and highlights the need for continued support and education on the importance of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies.
