How You Benefit From Breastfeeding

When people talk about breastfeeding, the conversation often centres only on the baby. However, Brittany Brown, a paediatric dietitian and lactation consultant in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, reminds us that mothers gain crucial health benefits, too. “It’s easy to prioritize a helpless newborn, but maternal health is just as important,” she tells Today’s Parent. “In fact, a mother’s well-being strongly influences the entire household.”

Beyond the well-known perks for babies, nursing delivers surprising, long-lasting benefits for moms, such as lowering lifetime risks of breast and ovarian cancers, heart disease and diabetes, while also aiding postpartum recovery.

“Breastfeeding triggers oxytocin, helping the uterus heal and supporting bonding,” Brown adds. “Over time, it boosts maternal confidence and attachment, reducing the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety.”

Curious about all the other ways breastfeeding supports maternal health? Ahead, experts break down the evidence-based benefits—including recovery, disease prevention, mental health—plus practical upsides like bonding, convenience, and financial savings.

Immediate physical recovery and health benefits

Breastfeeding isn't just about nourishing your baby. It also kickstarts your body's recovery after giving birth. Sharon Berger, an international board-certified lactation consultant and registered nurse, explains that the hormone oxytocin, which rises during breastfeeding, drives uterine contractions, helping your uterus shrink and reducing postpartum bleeding.

On top of helping heal your body, breastfeeding may give your metabolism a boost. A 2015 study published in Preventive Medicine found that parents who exclusively breastfed for at least three months saw modest metabolic benefits, including extra calorie burn and some postpartum weight loss.

Still, Berger cautions that weight loss is not a guarantee. "There are so many variables with weight changes, and it looks different for everyone," she points out. "What we do know is that breastfeeding increases your energy needs, since milk production requires a lot of calories."

And here’s one more benefit that rarely gets top billing: under the right conditions, breastfeeding can even double as birth control. “If your baby is under six months old, your period has not returned, and you are breastfeeding on demand around the clock with no bottles, formula, or solid foods, this method can be up to 98 percent effective," Berger says. But don't rely on this method alone if you're trying not to get pregnant.

Long-term disease prevention and health advantages

Breastfeeding is also an investment in long-term health, and one of its biggest advantages is lowering a mother’s lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancers. For example, a 2022 Cancer Medicine study found that breastfeeding cuts breast cancer risk by more than four percent, with every birth adding an additional seven percent reduction. The benefit is especially strong for aggressive cancers and for women with BRCA1 mutations who breastfeed longer.

The protective effects go beyond cancer. A 2023 Yale study found breastfeeding can boost insulin sensitivity and increase beta cell production in the pancreas, two key changes that help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes over time.

And if osteoporosis runs in your family, breastfeeding may also give your bones some extra armour. A 2017 meta-analysis in Osteoporosis International showed that women who breastfeed experience a modest reduction in fracture risk, especially with longer durations of nursing.

Emotional well-being and maternal mental health

Breastfeeding also has powerful effects on a mother's mental health, and much of that comes down to oxytocin, sometimes called the love hormone. According to Sunny G. Hallowell, an associate professor of nursing at Villanova University with more than 15 years in pediatrics and perinatal care, "Oxytocin is released when a baby suckles at the breast, triggering the let-down reflex that moves milk through the ducts and out of the nipple."

But its influence goes far beyond milk flow. "Oxytocin also works behind the scenes to lower cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. It calms the nervous system’s stress response and creates an overall sense of ease," she explains.

Research has linked this hormone-driven process to a reduced risk of postpartum depression and anxiety. "The release of oxytocin through breastfeeding may modulate the brain’s inflammatory response, inhibit activation of microglia (the brain’s immune cells), and curb the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that worsen inflammation. This may help reduce neuroinflammation tied to depression and even restore brain function," Hallowell says.

There is also emotional reassurance that comes with seeing breastfeeding work in real time. “When a new parent notices drops of colostrum or sees their baby feeding well, it can be deeply satisfying,” Hallowell adds. “The feedback loop of supply and demand keeps oxytocin flowing, which reinforces that sense of calm for both mother and baby.”

The unique bonding experience

One of the most meaningful benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby is the bond it nurtures. Not only does breastfeeding prompt the release of oxytocin, but as Hallowell notes, oxytocin also surges when a baby is placed skin-to-skin on their mother’s chest —a key step to help initiate breastfeeding.

"The soothing effect of a cuddle before and during breastfeeding can be contagious in the sense that it helps infants to stabilize and regulate their heart rates, maintain their temperature, and stabilize blood sugar," she says. "It is from this warm, fuzzy state that maternal-infant bond, trust, and affection are established, and both mother and infant are ready to begin breastfeeding".

Breastfeeding also makes it easier for mothers to pick up on their baby's cues. As highlighted in a 2023 Cureus study, skin-to-skin and eye contact can heighten maternal awareness, while hormonal changes help her feel more in tune and responsive. This connection naturally builds trust and encourages fast, attentive care.

Practical advantages and financial savings

Breastfeeding is a wallet win, too. "Formula feeding involves a surprising list of recurring expenses, from purchasing formula and distilled water to bottles and accessories,” says Lindsey M. Brown McCormick, Ph.D., a certified lactation counselor and perinatal mental health-certified psychotherapist. “Those costs pile up fast, potentially adding financial stress for families.”

These everyday expenses can quickly escalate, something Dr. David Ghozland, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN, has seen firsthand. "Formula isn’t just a line item. Think midnight runs for overpriced bottles at gas stations, cracked nipples, and the panic that hits when shelves are empty after dark. One family showed me a receipt: $47 for a single can, where they usually pay $28. These stories happen way more often than you’d think."

But the savings extend beyond the grocery store. Ghozland notes that breastfed babies typically have fewer doctor visits, up to four times less in the first year, which reduces not just healthcare costs but also missed work and sick days. “If you add up lost wages for emergency store runs and the markups during shortages, breastfeeding can save families between $2,500 and $3,000 in the first year,” he says.

Convenience is another major benefit. “When you’re running on three hours of sleep, nothing beats milk that’s always ready and perfectly warm,” Ghozland explains. “At 3 AM, breastfeeding parents often feed and get back to sleep in 20 minutes. Formula prep, cleanup, and settling can take 45 minutes, a difference that adds up to almost three hours of lost sleep weekly.”

The bottom line

Breastfeeding offers benefits that go beyond nutrition. “It’s convenient, cost-effective, and can lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer,” says McCormick. “During lactation, the release of oxytocin also helps with stress relief and connection.”

At the same time, it is important to remember that every feeding journey is personal. “Parents weighing breast, formula, or a combination should consider the time, energy, and effort each option requires,” McCormick explains.

Ultimately, parental health, wellness, and autonomy matter most. “Whether it’s breast, formula, or both, the right choice is what sustains the parent—because a supported parent is the foundation of a thriving household," McCormick shares.

Experts:

• Brittany Brown, RD, IBCLC, CDE, is a paediatric dietitian and lactation consultant.
• Sharon Berger, IBCLC, RN, is an international board-certified lactation consultant and registered nurse.
• Sunny G. Hallowell, PhD, APRN, PPCNP-BC, is an associate professor of nursing at Villanova University.
• Lindsey M. Brown McCormick, Ph.D., is a certified lactation counsellor and perinatal mental health-certified psychotherapist.
• Dr. David Ghozland, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN.