Breastfeeding Duration Is Inversely Associated with Postpartum Allostatic Load: A Possible Mechanism for Improved Maternal Health.

Allostatic load, a multisystem composite measure of chronic stress reflecting the cumulative wear and tear on the body, has utility in explaining maternal and child health disparities and predicting future health when measured during the peripartum period. Research using cross-sectional data has demonstrated an inverse association between concurrent breastfeeding status and maternal postpartum allostatic load. However, the relationship between breastfeeding duration and postpartum allostatic load has not been determined.

Breastfeeding Is Inversely Associated with Allostatic Load in Postpartum Women: Cross-Sectional Data from Nationally Representative US Women.

Background: The postpartum period is a critical transition period when exposures to protective factors such as breastfeeding can have long-lasting health impact. Studies have suggested downregulating effects of breastfeeding on stress biomarkers such as cortisol but have not explored the way breastfeeding interacts with allostatic load, a multisystem indicator of chronic stress.

Objective: We aimed to examine the association between breastfeeding and maternal allostatic load among women within 2 y postpartum using nationally representative data.