Whether you do it in public or behind closed doors, you cover yourself or go full frontal or decide not to do it at all, breastfeeding has health benefits for everyone involved. Everyone knows that breastfeeding your child passes on immunities, helps the baby bond with its mother, and provides your baby with all the nutrients it needs. There are many benefits for the mother too like losing weight and there is evidence to prove that breastfeeding is linked to lower probability of breast cancer in the mother and the female baby.
According to a study posted online by the New York Times, the lower number of women with breast cancer who breastfed specifically targets those who have breast cancer in their families. The study included over 60,000 participants but will continue to further prove their findings. A study quoted by Dr. Jay Gordon shows if you are breastfed as a child, you are 20-35% less likely to develop breast cancer in adult life, specifically post menopausal. This study is just proof that feeding your baby is a substantial way to take care of yourself as well as your baby.
Breastfeeding also burns up to 600 calories a day. This can be a diet all by itself, but would of course be further helped with diet and exercise. Sitting in a chair, bonding with your baby, giving it the nutrition you know it needs and be able to burn calories to lose that baby weight really seems like the ideal situation for mother and baby. The breastfeeding also sends a hormone through your body to hasten the shrinking of you uterus and the hip bones.
It is up to the mother and the family whether or not breastfeeding suits your lifestyle or not, but losing weight quicker and a chance to not have specific types of cancer sound like positive things to consider when making your choice.