Did you know that there are health benefits associated with having a baby? Pregnancy and childbirth is a mixed bundle of joy and challenges for nine months. You can expect to experience back pain, swollen legs, heartburn, stretch marks, morning sickness, and fatigue. However, it is not all bad news, while your body may experience something completely foreign, the changes that come with childbirth also produce some surprising health benefits.

Read on to find out the health perks of having a baby.

Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer

Getting pregnant and breastfeeding has a direct impact on the cells in your breasts. It makes them mature and produces milk. Breast cells which have not gone through this transformation are more susceptible to cancer.

Once you are pregnant and breastfeeding, your period stops. During menstruation, your ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, hormones which stimulate and increase the growth of breast cancer.

Getting pregnant means that your lifetime exposure to these hormones is reduced lowering your risk of getting breast cancer. While you are breastfeeding, your breast cells experience changes such that they are not likely to develop malignancies and transform into cancer cells later in life.

Healthy Ovaries

Having a baby lowers the chances of developing ovarian and uterine cancer. Every time you are on your period, your cells divide which can make them more susceptible to cancer. While you are pregnant and breastfeeding, you will have fewer period cycles and your ovaries will get a break. The more times you are pregnant, the less cell division there is. This lowers the risk of developing ovarian and uterine cancer.

Unfortunately, not every woman is fortunate enough to be able to conceive through traditional means, and fertility treatment is one way to rectify this. An egg donation process is sometimes necessary for couples to conceive through an implantation procedure such as in vitro fertilization. When successful, recipients can go on to enjoy all the health benefits associated with childbirth.

Less Painful Periods

If you experience painful cramps and heavy periods, the good news is that having a baby can bring so much relief. Many women have confessed experiencing less painful menstrual cramps after having their first baby.

It is believed that during delivery, prostaglandin receptor sites found in the uterus that contribute to menstrual pain are eliminated. That is why menstrual pain vanishes after childbirth. Also, it is believed that stretching of the uterus during childbirth plays a role in reducing the pain levels.

Reduced Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

According to a study presented to the Alzheimer Association International Conference in 2018, women with more than 3 children showed a 12% lower risk of dementia than those with one child. Miscarriages also increase the chances of dementia. The changes that happen to your immune system when you are pregnant decrease the risks of  Alzheimer disease.

Lowered Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

According to a study carried out in Australia, women who had a child were found to be 50% less susceptible to Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that affects the nerves in your head and backbone. Having more than 5 babies reduces the risk by 94%.

Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease has been cited as the number one cause of death of women in the US. Having a kid can reward you with a healthy heart. According to a study, breastfeeding lowers the risk of heart diseases and other illnesses such as stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.  While breastfeeding, the oxytocin hormone released. It has heart-healthy benefits. Another study showed that women who have more than 4 children are less likely to die from stroke and other heart diseases.

Reduced Female Disorders

Pregnancy and childbirth have been said to reduce female disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and fibroids. Having a baby is the road to recovery of these female disorders.

Overall Improved Health

Having a baby can lead to improved health. There’s a greater chance that you will drop unhealthy habits such as smoking drinking. Many women will stick to healthy habits such as exercising and eating right after getting a baby. This improves their overall health.

While carrying a baby and delivering can be a scary process with mental, physical and emotional tolls, it comes with a host of surprising physical health benefits and rewards. Surprisingly, many studies also conclude that the more children you have, the more health benefits you receive.