Updated: August 2026
Breastfeeding is usually discussed in terms of what it does for a baby, but mothers can benefit too.
Breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, can delay the return of menstruation after childbirth, contributes to postpartum recovery and may provide practical and financial benefits for families. The World Health Organization also recognises breastfeeding as an important part of maternal health and well-being. (World Health Organization)
At the same time, breastfeeding should not be presented as effortless or as a test of whether someone is a good mother. Some women experience pain, difficulty with milk supply, problems with attachment, work-related barriers or medical circumstances that make breastfeeding difficult.
Understanding both the benefits and the challenges allows mothers and families to make better-informed decisions.
What Is Exclusive Breastfeeding?
Exclusive breastfeeding means that a baby receives only breast milk during the first six months of life, without additional food or drinks, including water.
Exceptions include oral rehydration solution and medically necessary drops or syrups containing vitamins, minerals or medicines. (World Health Organization)
WHO and UNICEF recommend:
Starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
Breastfeeding according to the baby's needs, day and night
Introducing safe and nutritious complementary foods from six months
Continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding for up to two years or beyond (World Health Organization)
These recommendations focus primarily on infant nutrition and survival, but breastfeeding also has important implications for the mother's health.
What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers?
1. Breastfeeding Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Breast Cancer
One of the most important long-term maternal benefits of breastfeeding is its association with a reduced risk of breast cancer.
WHO identifies reduced breast-cancer risk among the health benefits experienced by women who breastfeed. (World Health Organization)
The relationship appears to be influenced partly by the total duration of breastfeeding across a woman's reproductive life.
This does not mean breastfeeding makes breast cancer impossible.
Breast cancer has many risk factors, including age, genetics, family history, hormonal exposure and lifestyle factors. Breastfeeding is one protective factor rather than a guarantee of prevention.
2. Breastfeeding Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer
Breastfeeding is also associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.
Changes in reproductive hormones and fewer ovulatory cycles during periods of breastfeeding are thought to contribute to this relationship.
WHO includes reduced ovarian-cancer risk among the established maternal benefits associated with breastfeeding. (World Health Organization)
Again, this should be understood as risk reduction, not complete protection.
3. Breastfeeding Supports Recovery After Childbirth
Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone involved in milk release and uterine contraction.
After childbirth, uterine contractions help the uterus gradually return toward its pre-pregnancy size.
This is part of the normal postpartum recovery process.
Mothers may notice cramp-like sensations during breastfeeding, particularly during the first days after delivery. These are sometimes called afterpains and can be more noticeable in women who have previously given birth.
Persistent severe pain or unusually heavy bleeding after childbirth should not simply be attributed to breastfeeding. It requires medical assessment.
Breastfeeding and Family Planning
One of the most misunderstood benefits of breastfeeding is its potential effect on fertility.
Breastfeeding can delay the return of ovulation and menstruation after childbirth.
This forms the basis of a temporary contraceptive approach known as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method, or LAM.
However, breastfeeding alone should not automatically be assumed to prevent pregnancy.
When Does LAM Work?
LAM can provide effective temporary contraception only when all three conditions are met:
The baby is younger than six months.
The mother's menstrual periods have not returned.
The baby is being fully or nearly fully breastfed, with breastfeeding occurring frequently during the day and night.
When these conditions are properly met, the risk of pregnancy is low.
Once any of these conditions changes, another reliable family-planning method should be considered.
For example, LAM should no longer be relied upon when menstruation returns, when breastfeeding becomes substantially less frequent, or when the baby reaches six months.
Can You Become Pregnant Before Your First Period Returns?
Yes.
This is important because ovulation occurs before menstruation.
A woman can therefore ovulate and become pregnant before experiencing her first postpartum menstrual period.
That is why simply saying, "My period has not returned, so I cannot get pregnant," is unsafe.
Women who want to avoid another pregnancy should discuss postpartum family-planning options with a qualified healthcare professional.
Does Breastfeeding Help Mothers Lose Weight?
Producing breast milk requires energy.
Some women therefore experience gradual postpartum weight loss while breastfeeding, and evidence reviewed by WHO has found more rapid maternal weight loss after birth among women exclusively breastfeeding for six months compared with shorter exclusive-breastfeeding periods. (World Health Organization)
But breastfeeding should not be promoted as a guaranteed weight-loss method.
Postpartum weight changes vary greatly between women and can be influenced by:
Pre-pregnancy weight
Weight gained during pregnancy
Diet
Physical activity
Sleep
Hormonal changes
Genetics
Medical conditions
Duration and frequency of breastfeeding
Some women lose weight quickly. Others lose it slowly or retain weight while breastfeeding.
The priority after childbirth should be adequate nutrition, recovery and sustainable health rather than aggressive dieting.
Breastfeeding and Mother-Baby Bonding
Breastfeeding provides repeated opportunities for close physical contact between a mother and her baby.
Holding, touching, responding to feeding cues and maintaining close interaction can support attachment and responsive caregiving.
However, it is important not to imply that breastfeeding is the only way a mother can bond with her child.
Strong attachment can also develop through:
Skin-to-skin contact
Holding and cuddling
Talking and singing
Responding to crying
Eye contact
Playing
Comforting
Feeding responsively by other appropriate methods
A mother who cannot breastfeed can still develop a strong and healthy relationship with her baby.
Breastfeeding Can Be Convenient
Once breastfeeding is established, it can offer practical advantages.
Breast milk is available without requiring formula preparation, sterilisation of feeding equipment or measuring powdered feeds.
For some mothers, this makes nighttime feeding and travelling with a baby easier.
Breastfeeding can nevertheless involve its own practical challenges, particularly when a mother returns to work, spends long periods away from her baby or has limited privacy and support.
Convenience therefore depends greatly on the mother's circumstances.
Breastfeeding Can Reduce Household Feeding Costs
Direct breastfeeding does not require families to routinely purchase commercial infant formula.
This can reduce household expenditure, particularly during the first months of life.
WHO also recognises that breastfeeding can save family and national resources. (World Health Organization)
However, breastfeeding itself is not completely "free."
Mothers require adequate food, healthcare, time and support. Some may also need breast pumps, storage containers, nursing pads or professional breastfeeding assistance.
The more accurate point is that breastfeeding can reduce direct expenditure on breast-milk substitutes, not that it has no costs whatsoever.
Does Breastfeeding Prevent Osteoporosis?
Older breastfeeding information sometimes claims that breastfeeding directly prevents osteoporosis.
The relationship is more complicated than that.
Breastfeeding temporarily increases the mother's calcium requirements, and some bone mineral is lost during lactation. Bone density generally recovers after breastfeeding ends.
It is therefore better not to tell mothers that breastfeeding itself is a treatment or guaranteed preventive measure for osteoporosis.
Women concerned about bone health should focus on broader evidence-based measures such as adequate nutrition, appropriate calcium and vitamin D intake, physical activity and medical assessment when indicated.
Nutrition While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding mothers need a nutritious and varied diet.
There is usually no need for a highly restrictive "breastfeeding diet."
A healthy eating pattern should include appropriate combinations of:
Vegetables
Fruits
Whole grains and other nutritious carbohydrate sources
Beans and other legumes
Eggs
Fish, meat or other appropriate protein sources
Milk or other suitable calcium-containing foods
Healthy fats
Adequate fluids
Food availability, cultural practices, allergies, medical conditions and individual dietary needs should all be considered.
Mothers should be cautious about unnecessary herbal mixtures and supplements promoted as guaranteed ways of increasing breast-milk production.
"Natural" does not automatically mean safe, particularly during breastfeeding.
Does a Breastfeeding Mother Need to Drink Excessive Water?
Breastfeeding increases fluid requirements, but mothers do not need to force themselves to drink extreme quantities of water.
Drink regularly and respond to thirst.
Keeping water available during breastfeeding can be helpful because many mothers notice increased thirst while feeding.
Persistent dehydration, vomiting, diarrhoea or illness requires appropriate medical attention.
Common Breastfeeding Challenges
Breastfeeding is natural, but that does not mean it is always easy.
Common challenges can include:
Difficulty getting the baby to attach properly
Nipple pain
Cracked nipples
Breast engorgement
Blocked milk ducts
Concerns about milk supply
Mastitis
Returning to work
Difficulty expressing or storing milk
Exhaustion
Pressure from relatives or society
Early support can prevent some breastfeeding difficulties from becoming reasons for stopping earlier than intended.
WHO advises mothers who need breastfeeding help to seek support from trained health workers or appropriately experienced breastfeeding counsellors. (World Health Organization)
When Should a Breastfeeding Mother Seek Medical Help?
Seek professional assessment when there is:
Severe or persistent breast pain
A red, hot or swollen area of the breast
Fever or significant illness
Pus or unusual discharge from the nipple
Severe nipple damage
A breast lump that does not improve
Concern that the baby is not feeding effectively
Concern about inadequate milk intake
Poor infant weight gain
Signs of dehydration in the baby
Persistent difficulty attaching the baby to the breast
Breastfeeding problems are not something a mother simply has to endure.
A trained healthcare worker can assess both the mother and baby and identify the underlying problem.
What About Breastfeeding and HIV?
Infant-feeding decisions for mothers living with HIV require appropriate clinical guidance.
Modern antiretroviral treatment has transformed prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, but recommendations must be followed carefully.
Mothers living with HIV should receive counselling through antenatal, maternity and HIV services and should take antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed.
They should not stop HIV treatment or change an infant-feeding plan based solely on information found online.
What If a Mother Cannot Breastfeed?
Not every mother will be able to exclusively breastfeed.
Reasons may include:
Certain medical conditions
Particular medications or treatments
Difficulties with milk production
Infant medical conditions
Separation of mother and baby
Severe breastfeeding complications
Personal circumstances
Families should not be shamed when breastfeeding is not possible.
When breast milk is unavailable or breastfeeding is medically unsuitable, parents should receive professional advice about safe and appropriate infant feeding.
The goal is a healthy, adequately nourished baby and a healthy mother.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of breastfeeding for mothers?
Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risks of breast and ovarian cancers, can contribute to postpartum recovery, may delay the return of fertility under specific conditions and can reduce direct household expenditure on infant formula. (World Health Organization)
Can breastfeeding prevent pregnancy?
Breastfeeding can temporarily suppress fertility, but it should only be relied upon as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method when all the required conditions are satisfied.
Breastfeeding by itself is not a guarantee against pregnancy.
Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding if my period has not returned?
Yes.
Ovulation can occur before the first menstrual period after childbirth.
Does breastfeeding help with weight loss?
Breast milk production requires energy and breastfeeding may contribute to postpartum weight loss in some women, but the amount and speed of weight loss vary considerably. (World Health Organization)
Does breastfeeding reduce breast-cancer risk?
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, although it does not eliminate the possibility of developing breast cancer. (World Health Organization)
Does breastfeeding reduce ovarian-cancer risk?
Yes. Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. (World Health Organization)
How long should a baby be exclusively breastfed?
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. (World Health Organization)
Should breastfeeding stop when complementary foods begin?
No.
Appropriate complementary foods should generally begin at around six months while breastfeeding continues for up to two years or beyond. (World Health Organization)
Is breastfeeding the only way to bond with a baby?
No.
Breastfeeding can provide opportunities for close interaction, but healthy bonding also develops through responsive caregiving, touch, communication and attention.
What should I do if breastfeeding is painful?
Persistent or severe pain should be assessed. Problems with positioning or attachment, nipple damage, engorgement, blocked ducts or mastitis may require specific support or treatment.
Key Takeaways
Breastfeeding benefits mothers as well as babies.
Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers. (World Health Organization)
Breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility, but the Lactational Amenorrhea Method only works reliably when specific conditions are met.
Breastfeeding uses additional energy and may contribute to postpartum weight loss, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed weight-loss programme.
Breastfeeding can provide opportunities for mother-baby bonding, but mothers who do not breastfeed can develop equally meaningful attachment through responsive caregiving.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, followed by safe and nutritious complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years or beyond. (World Health Organization)
And mothers should not be expected to manage breastfeeding difficulties alone. Pain, poor attachment, concerns about milk intake and other problems are legitimate reasons to seek professional support.
References and Further Reading
World Health Organization: Breastfeeding
World Health Organization: Infant and Young Child Feeding
WHO: Exclusive Breastfeeding for Optimal Growth, Development and Health
WHO: Breastfeeding Questions and Answers
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