The resurgence of more mothers exclusively breastfeeding around the world is a combination of increased education, the removal of stigma associated with the act of breastfeeding especially in public spaces, and the expansion of access to support breastfeeding beyond the initiation in the immediate postnatal period. Most often the focus of breastfeeding education is related to the benefits experienced by the infant, but there are exceptional benefits for the mother as well. This article will focus on maternal risk factors and lifelong benefits of breastfeeding.
What are the recommendations for breastfeeding?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their recommendations for breastfeeding guidelines to better align with the World Health Organization in 2022. The current recommendations support exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age. This can include exclusive nursing or exclusive pumping or a combination of nursing and pumping. At 6 months of age, breastmilk remains the primary form of nutrition, but complementary foods may be added to the diet. Breastfeeding should be encouraged for up to 2 years if the mother-baby relationship will allow. That being said, it can be hard to maintain that relationship in the early toddler phases. Be reassured as table foods become the primary form of nutrition between 1-2 years, there is still great benefit to breastfeeding for both mom and toddler at any level even as sessions become shorter or less frequent.
What are some risk factors affecting maternal longevity with breastfeeding?
Many factors can affect a mother both physically and mentally related to maintaining breastfeeding for the long haul. Some of the biggest disparities mentioned by the CDC in the National Immunization Survey for infants born in 2021 were:
-Issues with lactation and latching
-Concerns about infant nutrition and weight
-Mother’s concern about taking medications while breastfeeding
-Unsupportive work policies and lack of parental leave
-Cultural Norms and lack of family support
-Unsupportive hospital practices and policies
These factors lead to sixty percent of mothers not breastfeeding for as long as intended. Age can also play a factor - “Younger mothers aged 20 to 29 years are less likely to ever breastfeed (80%) than mothers aged 30 years or older (86.1%).”
What are the maternal benefits of breastfeeding?
According to the AAP, “Studies and meta-analyses also have confirmed the impact of breastfeeding longer than 12 months on maternal health, in decreasing maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, breast cancer and ovarian cancer rates” (1). The longer a mother breastfeeds the better her chances are at reducing these physical health risk factors. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) these are some increased risk factors for mothers who do NOT breastfeed:
-Type 2 diabetes
-Hypertension
-Breast Cancers
-Ovarian Cancers
-Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
-Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
-Obesity
The ability to reduce a mother’s risk to any of these physical health risk factors in the postnatal and over her lifetime is essential. One of the leading causes of death in women in the US is heart disease. “Data from the Women's Health Initiative indicate that mothers who breastfed for seven to 12 months after their first delivery were 28% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than mothers who never breastfed” (4).
In addition to the physical factors associated with longer duration of breastfeeding, there have been multiple documented studies showing increased maternal attachment and awareness of their child’s specific cues. “One analysis of data from 1272 families in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development found that longer breastfeeding duration, up to age 3, predicted increases in observed maternal sensitivity” (3).
Conclusion
While there are many improved health factors for decreased allergies, lessening of obesity risk through life, and improved immunity for breastfed infants, there are also surmountable benefits to lifelong maternal health and reduced risk factors for mothers. While every journey is different, do not be discouraged or dismayed from breastfeeding your baby. The ability to breastfeed your little one has lifelong advantages for you both.
References
(3)Technical Report: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org)
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