Breastfeeding ‘helps prevent heart disease in mothers’

Women who breastfeed could protect themselves against heart attacks and stroke, research published today suggests.

Data from 139,681 women found those who breastfed were less likely to suffer heart problems in later life.

Women who had breastfed babies for more than a year were 10 per cent less likely to develop the conditions than women who had never breastfed.

But even breastfeeding for at least a month could help cut the chances of women developing diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are all linked to heart disease.

The US study, from the University of Pittsburgh, was carried out on women who had passed through the menopause. They were all asked their
breastfeeding history.

On average, 35 years had passed since the women had last breastfed, suggesting the benefits of breastfeeding last for many years.

One of the authors of the study, Dr Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, said: "Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, so it's vitally important for us to know what we can do to protect ourselves.

"We have known for years that breastfeeding is important for babies' health — we now know that it is important for mothers' health as well. The longer a mother nurses her baby, the better for both of them. Our study provides another good reason for workplace policies to encourage women to breastfeed."

The research was published in the journal Obstetrics And Gynaecology.