That said, “it’s interesting that women who breast-fed more than 12 months showed risk reduction for heart disease, but that may say more about the health choices made by women who are going to breast-feed for that long,” says Dr. Moore. These women may simply lead healthier lives, she adds. Those who choose to breast-feed tend to be better educated and have a higher socioeconomic status than women who do not—factors that can also affect the risk of heart disease. (The researchers did take these factors into account.)
However, hormones may also be at play. Breast-feeding produces a surge in oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which may help protect the heart.
Some women and infants do have trouble with breast-feeding. “Breast-feeding is like riding a bike: It can be tricky at first, and almost everyone needs a little bit of help getting started, but it’s really important to learn how to do it,” Dr. Schwarz says. “Don’t hesitate to ask for help, and don’t doubt your body’s abilities to continue to provide for your baby the way it did throughout pregnancy.”
Calling the findings “dramatic and persuasive,” Edward R. Newton, MD, a professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., stresses that “it is imperative that health care providers and our society support and educate women concerning the maternal benefits of prolonged breast-feeding as well as the documented benefits of breast-feeding for the children.” Dr. Newton wrote an editorial that accompanied the new study.
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