May 8, 2009 7:30 pm US/Eastern
Go: New York Health! Breastfeeding Benefits Moms
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Many of us already know that babies benefit from breastfeeding. Well, recent research shows, so do their moms. (File)
CBS4
Many of us already know that babies benefit from breastfeeding. Well, recent research shows, so do their moms.
Breastfeeding is important to new mom Cynthia Hill and for good reason. While most doctors agree that breastfeeding is best for a baby's health, now a new study suggests that the practice benefits mothers as well.
"I feel very strongly about it especially because my mom, she had seven children, and each and every one of us she always breast fed," says Hill
Hill's mother, Carrie Paschal, was ahead of the time with her health. "Back in my day, nobody was doing it and they discouraged it. In fact, I had a few of my friends that said, 'You're going to do what?'" said Paschal.
According to a study from the Women's Health Initiative, women who breastfeed are at lower risk than mothers who do not for developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. And that's not all.
"Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, later in life," says Dr. Susan Rothberg, Director of Obstetrics at the Beth Israel Medical Center.
The benefits for the mother increased with the duration of breastfeeding. Women who breastfed for a year were much less likely to have a heart attack or stroke as compared to those who only breastfed for a month.
But even breastfeeding for a month made a difference.
"When you combine all of those health benefits with the bonding that comes with the mother and child experience of having that time together and having that closeness and that opportunity to bond, the advantages are tremendous," says Rothberg.
The World Health Organization says babies should be fed breast milk exclusively until they are 6-months-old. Once solids are introduced, breast milk can be used to supplement the diet until the child is 2.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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