How Breastfeeding Works

Abstract

Human milk is a complex secretion that is the sole ideal food for babies for at least the first 6 months of life. The amount and composition of the milk is largely independent of the mother's diet. The composition of the milk changes during lactogenesis II, and these changes can be used as biochemical markers of the onset of copious milk secretion. After 1 month of lactation, there are few further changes in the composition of milk until the volume of milk decreases substantially as the baby weans completely. The amount of milk produced depends on the amount of milk removed from the breast. Successful, exclusively breastfeeding babies show a three-fold variation in the amount of milk they take per day, and in the frequency of breastfeeds and amount of milk consumed during each breastfeed. The fat intake of the baby is independent of the feeding frequency. If a baby is growing normally, the mother can be confident that her baby does not need to follow prescribed breastfeeding regimes. She should respond to her baby's cues for the frequency of breastfeeds, and whether the baby requires one or both breasts for a meal. Continuing research into the physiology of breastfeeding provides a foundation for evidence-based treatment of breastfeeding difficulties.

Physiology of milk secretion

“…The fat content of milk is also known to increase with the duration of breastfeeding in proportion to the emptying of the alveoli [86]. Thus, even if the storage capacity influences fat concentration in milk, it does not affect the total amount of fat consumed by the child [87]. While the concentration of lactose shows no significant change with stage of lactation, variations in milk glycans, e.g.…”

“…Although PRL stimulates the synthesis of milk proteins, it does not control the amount of milk produced once lactation is established. In fact, the quantity of milk produced is correlated to the draining efficiency of the suckling and is accordingly upregulated if the breast is well-drained [87]. Moreover, the efficient draining of the breast appears to be more important than the frequency of feeding to stimulate milk production.…”

“…This may be related to the frequency and the efficiency of milk removal and to the local negative feedback regulation of milk secretion occurring when alveoli and ducts are filled with milk. As supplementary feeds are introduced, the milk storage capacity decreases along with the reduction of milk production [87].…”

Maternal hypertension induces alterations in immunological factors of colostrum and human milk

“…These changes affect the levels of these components and are dependent on the time of day and the milk maturation. Studies have reported that the nutritional and immunological properties of human milk are important to children and that they vary depending on the time of day as well as during the course of lactation (Kent 2007;França et al 2010França et al , 2013Honorio-França et al 2013). There is a relationship between the immunological and nutritional factors present in milk and the development of chronic diseases, including hypertension (Taylor et al 2005).…”

Repercussions of Breastfeeding by Diabetic Women for Breast Cancer

“…Breastfeeding even reduces the incidence of acute illnesses and likely decreases the risk of a number of chronic diseases. Several studies have investigated the association of breastfeeding with a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes (Davis, 2001;Kent, 2007). A reduced incidence of breast cancer is the most well documented long-term effect of breastfeeding on mothers and it has been shown to affect blood pressure, obesity/overweight and diabetes (Horta, 2007).…”