How is Breast Milk Made

You can effectively control milk supply by regular and complete removal of milk from breast, enabling milk production to progress. If about 80% of milk has been displaced, then the supply will increase by about 15-20% and will continue on this pace.  The low milk supply is due to the baby not breastfeeding enough times or that the intervals between adjacent feeds are far apart. Although your dietary patterns play some minor role, if milk is removed at proper intervals of time, there will be no problem with your breast milk supply. On the contrary, if you don’t regularly letdown milk, then there is no other go.

Anatomy Of A Mother's Breast

Towards the end of pregnancy, a pregnant woman will find that her breasts are getting enlarged and might experience some uneasiness in them. Breast is basically a gland of fatty and connective tissues. Oestrogen, as well as progesterone, which are released due to the instigation of placenta developing inside the mother, stimulates her biological system. Inside her breast, the tissues include ducts, ductules and alveoli, which are all enclosed protectively inside a fat layer. But after delivery the mothers’ breasts may become bigger by 1 ½ pounds, as fat cells gets substituted by the glandular tissues. Alveoli produce milk. Milk secretion is continuous; whereas letdown or milk ejection reflex is a separate distinct process that squeezes out whatever milk is made earlier and kept in alveolar lumen. Milk from alveoli flows to milk sinuses down the milk ducts. Each nipple has about fifteen-twenty openings through which milk can flow and this collection of alveoli makes a lobule that in turn as a group makes a lobe.

The period when breast milk is made, within twenty four-forty eight hours since childbirth, as a hormone gets released is called lactogenesis. During the first few days, first milk/colostrum is made, which has the same consistency as breast milk, but is a little bit off white and creamy. The baby consumes colostrum and it is low fat, yet it is full of high protein content. First, you might experience some engorgement, as the baby is only learning the basics of breastfeeding.

Letdown Reflex

As a result of the baby suckling at breast, two hormones prolactin and oxytocin are released by the pituitary gland. By the effect of prolactin, nutrients like proteins and sugars are taken from your bloodstream to convert it into breast milk. Oxytocin stimulates the cells surrounding the alveoli by contracting, into ejecting breast milk through your milk ducts. The feeling of a full or else tingling sensation in your breast can identify letdown reflex. Other symptoms are cramping in uterus and feeling of thirst. When there is letdown reflex, milk may dribble from breasts. Your baby can quickly consume milk by sucking your nipples.

Factors influencing letdown reflex are:

• Insufficient nursing time and incompetent way of nursing due to wrong positioning and incorrect latching on.
• Stress
• Various emotions like anger, fear, embarrassment, resentment or irritation.
• Breast engorging, especially initially.
• Fear about experiencing pain like sore nipples or sometimes afterbirth pain.