Breastfeeding helps Mom's heart
Categories: Pregnancy & birth, Health & safety
Here's an interesting side-effect to breastfeeding, one I hadn't heard before: women who breastfeed are 24% less likely to suffer a heart attack. That's a pretty astonishing statistic.
100,000 women who gave birth between 1986 and 2002 participated in the San Francisco based study. US researchers suggested that the decrease in heart attacks among breastfeeding women may be due to the fact that breastfeeding helps shed excess pregnancy fat. That was certainly the case for me -- I was the skinniest I've ever been for the year I breastfed Nolan.
I was struck by the researcher's comments at the end of the article: "It is becoming more and more clear that a lot of the things we do in modern life, such as eating trans fats or driving rather than walking, mess with the body.
100,000 women who gave birth between 1986 and 2002 participated in the San Francisco based study. US researchers suggested that the decrease in heart attacks among breastfeeding women may be due to the fact that breastfeeding helps shed excess pregnancy fat. That was certainly the case for me -- I was the skinniest I've ever been for the year I breastfed Nolan.
I was struck by the researcher's comments at the end of the article: "It is becoming more and more clear that a lot of the things we do in modern life, such as eating trans fats or driving rather than walking, mess with the body.
"For hundreds of thousands of years, birth has been followed by breast feeding, so when birth is no longer followed by breast feeding it is not surprising that there are consequences."
An interesting study, and interesting perspective.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amanda 2-15-2007 @ 11:54AM
I strongly believe that breastfeeding has kept me healthy. because I am nursing I eat healthier, I have cut out sugar, ALL sodas and anything with caffiene. It was hard but I'm glad I did, I feel so much better.
No matter how crummy my day or how stressed I am, sitting down and holding my baby makes every bit of stress and anxiety just melt away.
BREASTFEEDING IS BEST...for you, baby, your pocket book and your environment!
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Amy 2-15-2007 @ 12:12PM
Here we go again...
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lmt 2-15-2007 @ 6:11PM
I second that thought Amy. When a bunch of these nazi lactivism articles start popping up, I just want to stay away from BB for a week until it passes. So obnoxious.
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lin813 2-15-2007 @ 7:59PM
I'm so sick of posts like this and i'm done reading blogging baby it's sad a few people can ruin it all.
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Kristin 2-15-2007 @ 8:03PM
For the record: I am just posting topical stuff that's in the news and that I *think* might be of interest to readers of a baby blog.
I am not a breastfeeding advocate or a breastfeeding detractor. I support the decision of every Mom to make her own decisions for her family.
I can't stand it when Mom's judge each other, either. Don't shoot the messenger.
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Uly 2-15-2007 @ 8:25PM
*looks up*
Posting that breastfeeding is linked to a reduced risk of heart attacks is "nazi lactivism"? Seriously? Like, for real?
*reads again*
What if the article was "Christian families less likely to do drugs" or "Atheist parents less likely to divorce"? Would that be similarly Nazi-like? In that it's nothing like as bad as that?
Seriously, look. If you feel bad about any choices you've made in your life, that's your own problem. Nobody else has the job in life of making you feel good.
Otherwise, skip over the articles that don't interest you (I know I, for one, don't read any of the boring celebrity articles nor most of the ones involving child deaths/kidnappings) and read only the ones that do.
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Crystal 2-15-2007 @ 9:45PM
Amanda, well said!
There is nothing breastmilk cant do...It clears up pink eye, and I even put it in my dogs ears when she gets infections...Love The Stuff! :)
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Stephanie 2-16-2007 @ 7:17AM
I can't believe people are really criticizing Kristin for saying something that is a) science, b) news, c) related to babies. That's what BloggingBaby is supposed to be about. It's hard to see where the nazi lactivism part comes in.
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Sandyone 2-16-2007 @ 8:32AM
Oh, yeah...and when Kristin writes about how wonderful daycare is, it hurts my feelings that my kids aren't in daycare. Kristin, how could you be so meeean to meeee???
You'll never find me choosing regular daycare for my kids. I've made a decision on how I want to raise my kids. No matter how many studies or opinions come out touting the virtues of daycare, I'm not going to feel badly that we don't use it. (I might get a little jealous of the ability to use the toilet without any company, sometimes!)
I'm not going to whine about how awful I feel when people talk about the joys and benefits of their choices---because I *don't* feel awful. I've done what's best for my family. I know it. I'm strong in it. I have no regrets about it (except maybe that bathroom thing!). I've got my life and I like my life. Other people can't influence how I feel about myself.
I am woman.
PS...please stop using the term 'nazi' so glibly. It's an insult to all who fell victim to that evil regime.
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Heather 2-16-2007 @ 9:18AM
Is there anything breastmilk can't do? All of this info is great news for us breastfeeders. Awesome!
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lmt 2-16-2007 @ 10:09AM
Sandyone - aren't you just a WONDERFUL woman and an EXAMPLE for us all? Nice how you sort of backhandedly criticized Kristin for putting her child in daycare. Really bad comparison as NO ONE would put their child in daycare if they didn't have to.
And Heather - enough with the sunshine and giggles. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
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Sandyone 2-16-2007 @ 11:35AM
pssssst...lmt...I don't think Kristin really cares what I think about her decision to use daycare. See, she has looked at the situation for HER FAMILY and reached a solution. She's doing the best for her family and I think she's pretty darn confident in that. That's why I don't worry that saying that I choose differently is going to make her feel badly.
The point is that people should make their decisions and then live by them, changing what needs changing and keeping what works. If a woman is truly doing what she thinks is best, no one can make her feel guilty.
lmt, I'm wonderful for me and my family. That's all that really counts.
But you can keep on seeing what you want to see and playing the victim.
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lmt 2-16-2007 @ 1:30PM
Victim? Who's the victim? Those who feel the need to talk themselves up and make everything about THEM, are usually trying to cover up some major insecurities Sandyone. Sound familiar? Or can you even hear this over the roaring applause you're giving yourself in your mind?
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DRLAURAINTRAINING 2-16-2007 @ 7:31PM
lmt...you totally suck. Heather is right on about breastfeeding. And Sandyone always makes great points! I believe you are a bleeding-heart who just wants to make everyone feel goooooooooood, to the point where you are unable to engage in conversation.
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