Luna Lactation October Newsletter: Breastfeeding Benefits Moms Too

months, their rates of breast cancer would drop by 11% and if these moms lactated for 24 months or longer the cancer rate would decrease by 25% or more. The greatest benefits seem to be for premenopausal mothers that have delivered a baby and have lactated but there is also some protection offered just through lactation. This opens up the possibility of induced lactation, even for women that have not been pregnant, offering some degree of cancer protection. There are several theories out there about why breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and other forms of cancer. Some theorize that prolonged breastfeeding decreases the estrogen circulating in a woman’s body, some speculate that during lactation the inner breast ducts are bathed in the

The knowledge that breast­milk cures ailments is not new. However the focus usually tends to be on the benefits of human milk for babies. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so it is a good time to focus on just how vital breastfeeding is in the prevention of breast cancer (and many other cancers and diseases). There are a variety of research studies that examine the relationship of breastfeeding and breast cancer rates. A common thread found amongst the studies is that the longer a woman lactates, the lower her chances of developing breast cancer are. For example, if premenopausal mothers were to lactate for just 4-12

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