Lactation

Introduction

After the birth of a child, lactation starts. It is a process in which milk begins to be secreted from the mother’s mammary glands soon after they give birth to a child. After this process, the woman is capable of feeding her newborn baby. The milk produced from the mammary glands is full of nutrients necessary for the growth and development of a baby; hence, it is suggested to feed the baby this milk for at least 6-9 months after their birth. 

Lactation

Lactation can be defined as milk secretion from the mammary glands. It happens soon after the mother gives birth to the child. The milk produced contains essential nutrients and vitamins necessary for the newborn baby’s overall development. At this time, the mammary gland cannot produce and hold large quantities of milk; therefore, maintaining it is exceptionally important. The stage in which the milk is maintained is termed Galactopoiesis. 

Preparation of Lactation 

After the fifth or the sixth month of the pregnancy, the woman is ready to secrete milk. The woman enters the stage of lactogenesis during her last months of pregnancy. During this period, the breast builds colostrum, a thick yellow-coloured fluid that is also referred to as the first milk that the baby receives once they are born. Colostrum is extremely rich in immunoglobulin A, responsible for boosting immunity in the newborn baby. This milk helps prevent food allergies and any pathogens from invading the baby’s body. 

Lactation Process

• Placental hormones and ovarian hormones start impacting the breasts of the woman; as a result, they begin to grow larger in size and continue to grow even after the baby’s birth

• During this time, milk starts to produce in the breast of the to-be mother

• The milk only starts to secrete once the baby is born

• The mammary glands are responsible for milk secretion during the lactation process

Lactation Hormones

• Hormones like placental lactogenic, estrogen, oxytocin, progesterone and prolactin are responsible for the lactation process

• Estrogen hormones are responsible for the growth of the breasts during pregnancy; as a result, the breast tissues also grow

• The placental lactogenic hormone is present at a higher rate as it is responsible for stimulating the growth of the areola, breast tissues and nipple

• Progesterone hormone promotes an increase in the size of the breast tissue. Also, this hormone is responsible for boosting milk production. As soon as the baby is born, the Progesterone hormone levels decrease

Can Lactation Happen Without Pregnancy? 

In a woman’s body, there are majorly three hormones( estrogen,  progesterone and prolactin) responsible for promoting the process of lactation, leading to the production of milk in mammary glands. If any woman starts to consume medicines that have any of these three hormones as a supplement, there are higher chances that women can begin lactating even without pregnancy. Apart from this, there are other tendencies where lactation can occur even without pregnancy. These are as follows:

• Hormonal imbalance 

• Side effects of medicines or drugs 

• Excessive irritation in the breasts 

• Health disorders 

• Excessive production of the prolactin hormone into the women’s brain.

Important Nutrients During Lactation 

Properties of Milk 

1. The quality and the quantity of milk differs from the first stage of lactation to the stage when lactation is well established.
2. In case the milk is produced early, it is termed colostrum. 
3. After childbirth, the milk composition keeps on changing. 
4. After two weeks of childbirth, mammary glands produce the matured milk. 

As the child grows, the lactation gradually stops.

A Quick Comparison Between the Colostrum (1-5 days), Transitional (6-14 days) and Mature (after 14 days) Milk From the Cow’s Milk. Let’s Have a Look- 

Conclusion

Till now, we studied amniocentesis in detail. We hope things are clear to you now.

Over the past few years, it has been recorded that a decent amount of questions are being asked from this very chapter, which means it holds a lot of significance in every student’s life, aiming to score higher grades.