Birth weight and breastfeeding have implications for children’s health decades later

https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/27166.aspx

July 30, 2014

Young adults who were breastfed for three months or more as babies have a significantly lower risk of chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, according to research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

•••••

“These findings underscore the importance of a preventive approach, including but not limited to prenatal health care and postnatal breastfeeding support,” Metzger said. “And we know that insured women receive less prenatal care than insured women.

“So here in Missouri and elsewhere, expanding Medicaid eligibility would be one clear step in the right direction,” Metzger said