Between my job here and all the pregnancy/parenting books I've consumed over the past three years, I thought I knew all the pros and cons associated with breastfeeding. But here's something I only just learned, thanks to Booster Shots: lactation can lead to bone mineral loss, and a mom's bone density level won't necessarily return to pre-pregnancy levels after she stops breastfeeding. New research from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, though, shows that exercise can help. Nursing women who recently participated in a 16-week aerobics program showed "significantly less bone mineral density losses in the lumbar spine" than study participants who didn't work out.
Now if only someone would do a study showing how busy, breastfeeding moms can find the time to exercise!
Photo by mikebaird
