Important health benefits of breastfeeding and lactation are also described for mothers.83 The benefits include decreased postpartum
bleeding and more rapid
uterine involution attributable to
increased concentrations of oxytocin, 84 decreased menstrual blood loss and
increased child spacing attributable to lactational amenorrhea, 85 earlier return to prepregnancy weight, 86 decreased risk of breast cancer, 87 — 92 decreased risk of ovarian cancer, 93 and possibly decreased risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the postmenopausal period.94 — 96