10 Things New Moms Don’t Know About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding moms are more likely to stand up for their babies’ rights, according to a recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the experience doesn’t leave them feeling rattled. For example, defending your baby from a rude stranger could be considered stressful, but breastfeeding moms had significantly lower blood pressure readings than moms who bottle-fed their babies.

“Breastfeeding increases the body’s threshold for stress, likely through oxytocin and prolactin levels, making moms more stress-resistant,” says Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Ph.D., one of the study’s authors.