Breastfeeding Reduces Leukemia Risks
Leukemia is a leading cause of cancer among children, and it is the stuff of nightmares for parents. No one wants to see a baby who’s hair has fallen out, isolated in a hospital behind a plastic bubble, and waiting to have a dangerous transplant operation. While as many as 85% of children may survive leukemia, survival rates vary wildly from one type of cancer and stage of disease to another.
Fortunately, many mothers can breastfeed, and by so doing they reduce their child’s risk of the most common childhood leukemia by up to 24% - just by breastfeeding for more than 6 months! What mother wouldn’t want to do that for her baby, if she could?
The story of breastfeeding’s protective effects against leukemia is still in it’s early stages; but so far, studies indicate that the risk of both types of childhood leukemia can be reduced by extended breastfeeding, and even breastfeeding a little has some protective effects against one type of leukemia.
So if you are a tired, frustrated mother who’s been battling it out to maintain your nursing relationship, take heart! You’ve given your baby priceless protection against one of the scariest childhood diseases on the planet - just by breastfeeding!
Leave a Reply