Lactation as a targeted intervention for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: understanding the cardioprotective...

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy portend future cardiovascular risk and warrant implementation of evidence-based, preventive strategies. Lactation is an underrecognized, time-sensitive health behavior that improves cardiovascular outcomes across the life course.

This narrative review covers the relationships between maternal cardiovascular disease and lactation, including recent epidemiologic, translational, and clinical literature. We reviewed published studies linking breastfeeding, lactation and cardiometabolic risk factors (including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes), and cardiovascular disease, presenting evidence from large cohort studies and randomized trials. We also review mechanistic pathways, including endocrine regulation, metabolic adaptations, and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by key lactation-related hormones. The literature search was conducted in April and May of 2026 using PubMed and Open Evidence searches.

Breastfeeding is an important health-related behavior with meaningful cardioprotective benefits, especially for mothers facing elevated cardiovascular risk after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Evidence-based, multidisciplinary care for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, should include prompt lactation support, guideline‑concordant maternity care, and early postpartum interventions designed to improve maternal health across the life course. Recognizing lactation as a component of preventive cardiology offers an important opportunity to reduce the long-term burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease among women.