As World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st - 7th), comes to a close we leave you with one of the many benefits of breastfeeding. Aside from reducing infant mortality rates, this added benefit is that it reduces your risk of developing breast cancer. We do understand that the current pressures and life's demands and schedules including work/life balance may make it difficult to breastfeed. However, it is one of the healthier alternatives, especially when one factors in the shortage of formula crises we have recently experienced in the U.S. While more research is needed on the breastfeeding links, the findings reveal thus far (in a total of 47 combined) studies that:
- Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer, especially before menopause, than women who don’t breastfeed.
- Mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total (combined duration of breastfeeding for all children) of one year were slightly less likely to get breast cancer.
- Mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total of 2 years got about twice the benefit of those who breastfed for a total of one year.
- Mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total of more than 2 years got the most benefit.
Such information should be provided to expectant women and women of childbearing age(s) early on and during prenatal learning sessions/classes.
For a summary of these studies visit: