We often hear about the benefits babies get from breastfeeding. However, it is also important to note the benefits of breastfeeding as well as the risks of not breastfeeding. As breastfeeding is the biological norm following pregnancy, it makes sense that we experience risks when we do not breastfeed. More recent research shows breastfeeding protects against cardiovascular disease.
As Certified Breastfeeding Counselors, we provide ongoing support in the prenatal and postpartum period. Our goal as a CBC should be to aid people in reaching their breastfeeding goals, whatever goals those are. Research indicates most parents wish to breastfeed at least for a time. Yet we know many do not reach their personal goals due to lack of support.
When we can educate not just a breastfeeding parent, but their support system, about the importance of breastfeeding, we are helping clients to reach their goals. When their support system understands why breastfeeding is important, they are more likely to help.
New Research Shows Breastfeeding Protects Against Cardiovascular Disease
“Women who breastfed were less likely to develop heart disease or a stroke or die from cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed, according to a meta-analysis published today in a pregnancy spotlight issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.”
It is important to note that this lactation related study was published in a peer-reviewed journal. It was published in the JAHA which is accessed by many healthcare professionals, not just lactation professionals. This is important as breastfeeding support is vital in healthcare settings.
When hospitals, obstetricians, pediatricians, etc., provide poor lactation support and misinformation, families are less likely to meet their breastfeeding goals.
What Did The Research Find?
Prior research has already noted that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as well as certain cancers. This was women who breastfed at some point in their lives compared to women who did not breastfeed.
Now, new research is showing that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of death related to cardiovascular disease.
Senior study author Peter Willeit, M.D., M.Phil., Ph.D., professor of clinical epidemiology at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, said:
“Previous studies have investigated the association between breastfeeding and the risk of cardiovascular disease in the mother; however, the findings were inconsistent on the strength of the association and, specifically, the relationship between different durations of breastfeeding and cardiovascular disease risk. Therefore, it was important to systematically review the available literature and mathematically combine all the evidence on this topic.”
How Many Studies Were Used to Show Breastfeeding Protects Against Cardiovascular Disease?
Previous studies had shown a possible correlation between breastfeeding and the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, none of the single studies were strong enough to make a clear connection.
To get more information to make a clearer picture about the association between breastfeeding and cardiovascular disease, researchers looked at several studies. They reviewed information from eight studies which were conducted between 1986 and 2009. These studies took place in Australia, Norway, China, Japan, and the U.S., as well as on multinational study.
The meta-analysis included records for nearly 1.2 million women. They analyzed the relationship between breastfeeding and the mother’s individual cardiovascular risk.
What Important Information Was Found in The Studies?
When researchers compiled the study, the review found:
- 82% of women reported breastfeeding at some time in their life
- Women who breastfed at some point had an 11% decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to women who never breastfed
- During the average 10-year follow-up period, women who breastfed at some point were 14% less likely to develop coronary artery disease; 17% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease; and 12% less likely to suffer strokes
- Those who breastfeed for 12 months or more during their lifetime appeared to be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to women who never breastfed
- When looking at cardiovascular disease risk among women of different ages or number of pregnancies, there were no notable differences in risk.
One study author noted:
“A limitation of this meta-analysis is that little information was available about women who breastfed for longer than two years. “’If we had this additional data, we would have been able to calculate better estimates for the association between lifetime durations of breastfeeding and development of cardiovascular disease in mothers.”’
As certified breastfeeding counselors, you can use this information to educate and support clients. It is important you do not use this information to pressure or trigger guilt in struggling parents. However, evidence-based education is an important part of our scope of practice.