Breastfeeding is widely recognised for its benefits to infants, providing essential nutrition and immunity. However, a recent study indicates that longer lactation may also offer significant cardiovascular benefits for mothers, reducing the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke before the age of 70.

The Study and Its Approach Researchers examined data from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort, which included 6,857 mothers who gave birth between 1959 and 1961. The women were followed for over 60 years, with breastfeeding duration recorded at their babies’ one-year check-up. Health outcomes, including CAD and stroke diagnoses, were tracked through Denmark’s national health registers from 1977 to 2022, providing a long-term perspective on maternal health.

Clear Benefits Observed After Four Months of Breastfeeding The study highlighted significant differences based on lactation duration:

• Mothers who breastfed for more than four months had a 41% lower risk of coronary artery disease.

• The same group also experienced a 34% lower risk of stroke compared with mothers who breastfed for two weeks or less.

These results suggest that extended breastfeeding may provide protective effects for both the heart and brain, reinforcing the value of supporting mothers in maintaining longer lactation when feasible.

How Breastfeeding Supports Maternal Heart Health Researchers propose several physiological mechanisms behind these benefits:

• Cardiovascular regulation: Lactation can help balance blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and cholesterol levels, which may reduce the risk of CAD.

• Vascular protection: Breastfeeding may support blood vessel health, lowering the likelihood of stroke in later years.

• Hormonal balance: Hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin, elevated during lactation, may reduce stress and support overall well-being.

Even after adjusting for pregnancy-related and lifestyle factors, the protective effects of longer breastfeeding remained significant.

Timing Matters The study found that the benefits were most pronounced before age 70. After this age, the association between breastfeeding duration and reduced CAD or stroke risk was not significant, suggesting that extended lactation has the greatest impact on cardiovascular health in midlife.

Implications for Mothers These findings add to growing evidence that breastfeeding benefits both mother and child. While personal circumstances may affect how long a mother can breastfeed, support from healthcare providers, family, and workplace policies can make extended lactation more achievable and contribute to long-term health outcomes.

Conclusion Breastfeeding is more than infant nutrition. Extended lactation can help protect mothers’ heart health, lowering the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke before age 70. Supporting and encouraging longer breastfeeding benefits not only children but also maternal health over the long term.