More great news! SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation) has noted that women are less likely to develop the Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) in midlife if they breastfeed. In addition, the benefit increases the longer the mother breastfeeds--the risk of Met Syn decreases by 20 percent for each year the mother nurses. Dr. Nanette Santoro of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York states that, the benefits may be "mediated by changes in insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, and/or free fatty acid metabolism." Santoro goes on to say that "these findings of maternal benefit may encourage more women to initiate and maintain breastfeeding behavior."

And for me? I'm thrilled to add another "pro" to my list!