How breastfeeding helps not just babies but also overweight mums

It’s no secret “breast is best” for babies but Australian research now shows it can also help overweight mums slim down. Here’s how long you should keep at it.

The World Health Organisation has long maintained breastfeeding for at least six months gives babies the best start in life, but now Australian research has revealed it also has benefits for overweight mums.

The Flinders University Women’s Health and Midwifery Research team has found that while heavier women are less likely to breastfeed than slim mums, doing so could actually help them lose weight.

“Our research indicates that overweight or obese women – with BMI of 25 or more – are less likely to think about breastfeeding or want to breastfeed, and those who do, tend to breastfeed for shorter duration than their leaner counterparts,” researcher Professor Annette Briley said.

Less than half of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.

“In addition to the recognised health benefits for mother and baby, it should be noted that heavier women can benefit from some moderate weight management advantages by breastfeeding for at least six months – if only one feed a day.

“Their weight loss would generally outstrip that of the average larger woman who chose not to breastfeed who, in this research, instead tended to gain almost 2kg (1.96kg) post pregnancy compared to those who choose to breastfeed, who retained 80g.

“We know that women also tend to put on weight between pregnancies, so the cumulative benefits of getting back into shape by breastfeeding and other measures results in better long-term outcomes after pregnancy.”

Breast feeding also provided long-term cardio metabolic health benefits, and emerging evidence suggested it could reduce the risk of high blood pressure and developing diabetes.

Other research had found breastfed babies had better developmental milestones than those who were formula fed, she said.

Breastfeeding infants longer can help overweight Aussie mums slim down.

Professor Briley said more needed to be done by healthcare professionals, families, friends and communities to encourage women from all cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to breastfeed for a minimum of six months.

This included making provision for breastfeeding when women returned to work.

Currently, less than half of infants under six months of age were exclusively breastfed, she said.

A breastfeeding furore broke out in Victoria earlier this year when a woman was booted from a County Court room after the judge saw her breastfeeding.

“Madam, you will not be permitted to breastfeed a baby in court,” Judge Mark Gamble told her.

The woman told the Herald Sun she was “humiliated” at having to walk past everyone after being told it would be a distraction for the jury.

The mother said more education was needed in the community to ensure women were not “shamed” for nursing their babies in public.