A new study has revealed that breastfeeding for at least two months, can lessen the risk of having relapses in women suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).

The study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology said that women with MS have less relapses during pregnancy, while the risk of experiencing the same increases considerably during the first 3 to 4 months postpartum.

The study said that women who breastfed for at least two months after pregnancy may slash their risk of getting multiple sclerosis symptoms back by one-third.

Most of these women who opted not to breastfeed stated that they took the decision to re-start their MS medication.

Relapse was reported in women who began MS treatment early after labor as compared to those who did not take these drugs at once, irrespective of whether they nurse or not.

The researchers of the study feel that the late starting of menstrual periods in such women as compared to those who did not breastfeed or started early supplemental feedings may be the major cause of the lower relapse rate in such women.