d news: "Nursing a baby may look pretty effortless, but it can burn up 500 calories a day - the equivalent of running about 5 miles." Scientific studies have demonstrated that between three months and nine months postpartum, nursing mothers who get even mild exercise lose more weight than their bottle-feeding sisters. Moderate exercise is not only OK for the nursing mom, but it seems to benefit the milk supply, too. Just be sure to empty the breasts before exercise and wear a supportive bra. Speaking of body image, those leaking, swollen breasts of the first month DO settle down. In an established lactation, women are only really aware of fullness if they go too long between feeds. Over time, lactating breasts return to a fairly normal size, although they maintain a rounder, firmer shape that many women (and their partners) find attractive. Lower stress levels, a break from having monthly periods, and a nice looking body are great perks. But on a more serious level, there are some pretty compelling health advantages to breastfeeding as well. Due to metabolic changes influenced by hormones, urinary track health is improved during lactation, so nursing moms suffer fewer bladder infections. Some women with chronic diseases discover they enjoy improved health during lactation. For instance, insulin-dependant diabetics generally require less insulin while breastfeeding. Long-term health benefits may be even more compelling than the short-term advantages of breastfeeding. Osteoporosis, or bone degeneration, is a disease that impacts the health of many older women. While it is true that nursing mothers lose some bone mass during lactation, the loss seems to trigger growth of new bone after the baby weans. This means that women who breastfeed continue to grow new bone mass long after their early 20's, the time when bone growth otherwise ceases. Consequently, breastfeeding women enter old age with newer, stronger bone stores, significantly reduc...
