Science behind milk production by breasts (videos included)
Have you ever wondered what happens in a woman’s body after her baby is born? How do the beasts produce milk which will be the primary and vital nourishment for the baby for the next few months? A woman’s body starts changing and preparing for giving birth the moment the sperm fertilises the egg in the uterus. The biggest changes take place in the woman’s uterus and her breasts.
First clues of pregnancy:
Breast changes give the first clues of pregnancy. The breasts start swelling and become tender with enlarged and darkened nipples areolae (the dark area around the nipple is called areola). Newly pregnant women might feel a heaviness in breasts even before the pregnancy is confirmed by tests.- First trimester: Apart from breasts enlarging, small bumps called Montgomery or Montgomery tubercles, which secrete an oil develop on the areola early during the pregnancy. This oil secretion is essential for the lubrication of nipples to prevent them from drying and cracking while breastfeeding after the baby’s birth.
- Second trimester: Hormonal changes take place as the pregnancy progresses into the second trimester and the placenta develops. As the placenta develops, it produces high levels of hormones HCG, estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen, in particular, is responsible for the increase in number and size of milk ducts and the enlarging of breasts during pregnancy.
- Third trimester: The production of a yellowish milky liquid called colostrum begins by the third trimester. Some women might even start leaking small amounts of colostrum in their third trimester.
Post Child Birth:
Once the baby is born, with the expulsion of the placenta, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop in the mother’s body promoting the release of colostrum. Prolactin which is produced primarily in the pituitary gland aids in the production of milk after childbirth. Each time the mother breastfeeds, the prolactin level increases leading to more milk being produced and stored. Oxytocin another hormone plays an important role in breastfeeding. It controls the release of milk from breasts or ‘let downs’. As the breast is stimulated by suckling, the increase in oxytocin leads to the release of milk to the feeding baby. The more your baby feeds, the more milk is produced by your body.
The mother’s milk comes in in three stages:
- First milk or colostrum is the first stage of breast milk. It’s production begins during pregnancy and it lasts for several days post childbirth. It provides the first, vital nourishment and helps in developing the baby’s immunity as it is high in proteins, vitamins and disease fighting antibodies.
- Transitional milk follows colostrum and can be produced anywhere 2-5 days post birth and lasts 10-14 days. It has a high fat content, vitamins and lactose and has more calories than colostrum.
- Mature milk is the final milk which a mother feeds her baby throughout the period she decides to breastfeed. It is 90% water which is essential for hydration, and 10% carbohydrates, proteins and fats which are essential for the baby’s nourishment and growth. Foremilk is released at the beginning of the feeding and is high in water, vitamins and proteins. Hindmilk is released after foremilk and has higher amount of fat and is essential for weight gain in babies.
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother
- The hormone, Oxytocin which is released while breastfeeding causes the uterus to contract. This helps the uterus regain its pre-pregnancy shape and size.
- Breastfeeding mother’s burn calories while their body works to produce milk and in the act of nursing their child. However, weight loss may not be consistent for all feeding moms as breastfeeding also makes mothers hungrier.
- Breastfeeding is also linked to lower incidence of breast and ovarian cancers.
Benefits of breastfeeding for the child
- Colostrum or first milk is the yellowish milky fluid which the infant gets in the first few feedings from his mother. It is high in antibodies, fats, vitamins and is essential for building the baby’s immunity for fighting off chronic diseases.
- Breastfed babies have a 30% lower chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of asthma or allergies in babies.
- Babies who are exclusively breast fed for the first 6 months have fewer ear infections, respiratory infections and bouts of diarrhoea.
- They also have a lower incidence of tooth decay and have optimal oral development because of jaw movements while breastfeeding.
- Breast fed babies also have a lower incidence of childhood obesity or being overweight.