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• Breast milk contains less insulin than formula. (Insulin stimulates the creation of fat.) • Breastfed babies have more leptin in their system, a hormone that researchers believe plays a role in regulating appetite and fat. • Compared with breastfed babies, formula-fed infants gain weight more rapidly in the first weeks of life. is rapid weight gain is associated with later obesity. Breastfeeding may lower your baby's risk of SIDS A large German study published in 2009 found that breastfeeding – either exclusively or partially – is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). e researchers concluded that exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month of age cut the risk of SIDS in half. e U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends breastfeeding for as long as possible to reduce the risk of SIDS. Breastfeeding can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression e National Institutes of Health reviewed more than 9,000 study abstracts and concluded that women who didn't breastfeed or who stopped breastfeeding early on had a higher risk of postpartum depression. Many women report feeling relaxed while breastfeeding. at's because nursing triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin. Numerous studies in animals and humans have found that oxytocin promotes nurturing and relaxation. (Oxytocin released while nursing also helps your uterus contract aer birth, resulting in less postpartum bleeding.) One study found that women who had high amounts of oxytocin in their system (50 percent of breastfeeding moms as opposed to 8 percent of bottle-feeding moms) had lower blood pressure aer being asked to talk about a stressful personal problem. By the way, if you're being treated for depression, you can still breastfeed your baby. Your healthcare practitioner can help you identify safe ways to treat your depression while nursing. Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer Numerous studies have found that the longer women breastfeed, the more they're protected against breast and ovarian cancer. For breast cancer, nursing for at least a year appears to have the most protective effect. It's not entirely clear how breastfeeding helps, but it may have to do with the structural changes in breast tissue caused by breastfeeding and the fact that lactation suppresses the amount of estrogen your body produces. Researchers think the effect on ovarian cancer may be related to estrogen suppression as well. More information Studies are finding new benefits of breastfeeding all the time. e May 2010 issue of Pediatrics, for example, published a study showing that babies who are breastfed are less likely to have fevers aer their immunizations than babies who are formula fed. Breastfeeding is natural – but that doesn't necessarily mean it's easy. Don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider or a certified lactation consultant if you need help or support. Abby's Magazine - Volume 4 Issue 3 | Page 37