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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
More breast milk means a healthier heart for new moms. A new JAMA Network Open study found that women with prior gestational diabetes who fed their babies at least 80% breast milk had significantly better lipid profiles — including lower triglycerides and improved cholesterol ratios — in the first 3 months postpartum, suggesting a dose-response relationship between breastfeeding intensity and cardiometabolic health.
A new study in JAMA Network Open adds a compelling reason to support breastfeeding in a high-risk population. Researchers found that women with prior gestational diabetes who fed their newborns at least 80% breast milk had significantly better lipid profiles in the first 3 months after delivery — including lower triglycerides and improved LDL-to-HDL cholesterol ratios — compared to those who breastfed less intensively.
The findings point to a clear dose-response relationship: as breastfeeding intensity decreased across six measured levels, cardiometabolic markers progressively worsened. Even women who breastfed at 60–70% intensity showed better outcomes than those below 50%, suggesting that every bit counts.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Gestational diabetes affects ~14% of pregnancies globally and raises long-term cardiovascular risk. These findings suggest breastfeeding intensity could be an early, modifiable strategy to improve lifelong cardiometabolic health — though clinicians should counsel patients supportively, as this population already faces higher rates of lactation difficulties.
