Breastfeeding for a longer period may reduce the degree of pain felt by women who gave birth through caesarian section, says a recent study by Spanish researchers.
The researchers discovered that mothers who breastfed for at least 2 months after a C-section were nearly three times less likely to experience persistent pain compared to those who breastfed for less than two months.
The research team, led by the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Valme in Sevilla, looked at what happened to 185 mothers who had undergone C-sections.
They were asked about pain levels around the scar in the first 24 and 72 hours after C-section, and again four months later.
The women were also asked whether and for how long they breastfed.
About 1 in 4 of the mothers (22.8%) who breastfed for up to two months said they were still experiencing pain in the scar area four months after giving birth compared to only 8.3% of those who said they breastfed for longer than two months.
The researchers found that 53.8% of mothers who breastfed said they experienced anxiety and say it is possible that anxiety during breastfeeding might influence the likelihood of pain at the surgical site four months after delivery.
Thus, less anxiety can mean less pain.
The researchers however warned that the results be treated with caution as they are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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