Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Along with a list of breast-feeding's health benefits for mothers and children, pediatricians often tout an added bonus -- unlike formula, breast milk is free. But did you know breast-feeding comes with a cost to new moms that is often overlooked.
Women's incomes dropped precipitously when they choose to breast-feed for six months or longer -- and they remained low some five years after the babies were born, according to a new study.
The researchers found that on average women who breast-fed their babies for six months or longer experienced a dramatic drop in income. Five years after the birth of their babies, the women were still making about $5,000 per year less than they had before the birth of their children.
One factor that explained much of the drop in income was a reduction in hours -- and this was true even though most of the women in the long-duration group were managers or professionals and said they worked because they liked to.
