It’s no secret that there are many benefits to breastfeeding for both mother and baby. For one, it provides a great bonding experience for the mother and the baby. Breast milk fights disease and boosts an infant’s immune system with nutrients and antibodies. Breast milk is FREE, eliminating the need to buy costly formula. It supplies your baby with the nutrients they need, changes as your baby grows, and is easily digested. By breastfeeding, mothers decrease their risk of breast cancer. AND, just in case you needed another reason to breastfeed your baby, it is now believed that breastfeeding mothers can also cut the risk of ovarian cancer by 91%!
Ovarian cancer, the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths in women, is difficult to diagnose. Because ovarian tumors are hard to detect with pelvic exams and symptoms can easily be confused for other illnesses, ovarian cancer is rarely diagnosed early on.
“It is believed that breastfeeding helps prevent ovarian cancer because it can delay ovulation. Researchers believe that the more ovulations occur, the greater the risk of cell mutation, which can trigger the disease.”(source)