A few months back, a research team announced a uniquely comprehensive study that will be ongoing for the next five years looking at how breastfeeding impacts the cost of health care for low birth weight babies. Knowing the wealth of health benefits breastfeeding provides both mother and baby, a new study hopes to provide even more insight. 
Researchers at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the
The study will determine if there a potential link between breastfeeding and a mother’s health, such as post partum depression. In addition, how the effects of family-friendly workplace practices impact the duration of breastfeeding and whether or not a mother decides to return to work.
Using various statistical and economic analytic techniques, the ISER team will be using two different data sets of about 15,000 children each in an attempt to separate the true effects of breastfeeding from notions that have previously been inferred without data or research.
Researchers are excited about the prospective findings of the study and hope to provide a new perspective on breastfeeding as well as furthering the current knowledge of the many benefits. Not only could the findings impact mothers, but also employers and policy makers. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, but current breastfeeding rates remain low even in developed countries and even more women do not make it to the recommended six month mark.
Tags: breastfeeding
