We have all heard about the importance of breast feeding….for the baby. But less attention has been paid to what lactation can do for a Mom’s future risk of cardiovascular disease. So here are some breast-to-heart facts: Breast feeding increases caloric expenditure by approximately 480 calories a day, which of course means that pregnancy weight is more easily lost postpartum. Lactation improves glucose tolerance. (This means that when you do consume sugar or anything converted to glucose, your insulin levels won’t instantly surge; as you know surging insulin is not good, it can cause fat storage and increased “bad” triglycerides). Breast feeding also helps general fat metabolism and will lower the C-reactive protein profile. (C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammation and is correlated with the inflammatory process that increases development of plaque and cardiovascular disease). There are also a number of studies that have shown a long term benefit for lactation on midlife metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high triglycerides and obesity) and cardiovascular disease.

A new study published in the January Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology gave additional credence to the “breast feeding is good for a Mom’s heart” theory. (Of course it’s good for emotional heart aspects, but that’s not what this article is about). In 1996 and 1997, The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (aptly acronymed SWAN) was established. Women between the ages of 42 and 52 were followed in seven sites. Two hundred and ninety seven of these women who reported at least one live birth on enrollment were enrolled in this aspect of the study; 121 women consistently breast fed all their children for at least 3 months, 84 inconsistently did so and 92 did not. Special electronic beam tomography scans were done on all the women to measure the amount of calcification in their coronary arteries and aorta. (Note calcification of these areas indicates the presence of atherosclerotic plaque and its presence has been show to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.)

Those women who did not breast feed were more likely to be African American, more likely to smoke, consume fatty food, and ingest more calories. They were also less likely to be college graduates than the women who breast fed. But before we say voila, maybe these factors were more important than whether they breast fed, note that the statisticians adjusted for all of these factors. And they still found that mothers who had not breast fed were 3.82 more like to have aortic calcification and 2.78 more likely to have coronary artery calcification than those who had.

Bottom line: The decision to breast feed has implications not just for the health of the baby, but also for the heart of the Mom. Breast feeding may help her stay healthy longer and allow her to care for and cherish her children. Let’s make sure we, our daughters and any friends who plan to have a baby are aware of this!