Parent Time

When a woman decides to get pregnant, she’s not likely doing it for the sake of her health. But it’s nice to know, in addition to hand-drawn Mother’s Day cards, our wee ones have other gifts to bestow — from decreased risk of certain cancers to fewer painful periods.

Here is our list of maternal health benefits:

1. Decreased risk of breast cancer A review of 47 studies in 30 countries, published in the British health journal The Lancet, shows the longer mom breastfeeds, the lower her risk of breast cancer. For every 12 months of nursing, the risk drops by 4.3 percent. That figure holds regardless of her age, race, number of children, whether she’s menopausal, or whether she lives in the developed or developing world.

But breastfeeding moms aren’t the only ones with a reduced risk. If you have a child before your 20th birthday, your risk is reduced.

2. Decreased risk of ovarian cancer Ovarian Cancer Canada says women who have had several pregnancies or who have breastfed reduce their risk of getting ovarian cancer. Being pregnant more than once over the course of five years can reduce your risk by about 50 percent.

3. Decreased risk of endometrial cancer Researchers suspect increased levels of progesterone during pregnancy and temporarily lower levels of estrogen after pregnancy combine to lower a woman’s risk of this type of cancer.

4. Decreased symptoms of endometriosis The sometimes painful condition happens when endometrial tissue from the uterus is found near the ovaries or elsewhere in the abdomen. Again, increased levels of progesterone during pregnancy and lower levels of estrogen afterward are the likely reason symptoms of endometriosis can decrease after having a baby.

5. Increased rate of wound healing Studies suggest that lactation may speed up the healing process after giving birth. Whether giving birth naturally or via Caesarian section, women can sustain substantial tissue trauma. Recent research suggests lactation may improve the healing process.

6. Better screening for potential health problems Pregnant women who seek prenatal care are subject to a battery of tests, such as pap smears and screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Without the regularly scheduled medical visits that pregnancy entails, women can be tempted to put off such tests.

7. Less likely to smoke About half of female smokers try to quit when they find out they are pregnant. A 2003 study by BC’s Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health found about 25 percent relapse before giving birth, and 70 to 90 percent relapse within a year. In other words, 10 percent kick the habit for at least a year after giving birth.

Originally published in Today's Parent, May 2006