The term LACTATION means the secretion of milk from the mammary glands. This comes up when a woman needs to feed her baby. The woman lactates at that time it means the woman is milking and this process is known as ‘NURSING A BABY’ or ‘BREASTFEEDING’. This process is normal in mammals. This occurs in all post-pregnancy mammal females. The milk secreted by the mammary glands is stored in the fat tissues of the breast.
Lactation is known as the cyclic process of synthesis of milk and its secretion occurs with the help of hormones that are:
- Prolactin (PRL): Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone. Milk synthesis occurs in the epithelial cells of the mammary glands in response to Prolactin activation of epithelial cell PRL receptors. Prolactin stimulates the ductal growth of mammary glands.
- Oxytocin: It is the important hormone that is involved in the milk ejection or letdown reflex. When the newborn is placed at the breast and begins sucking, oxytocin is released. The sucking baby stimulates the touch receptors that are densely located around the nipple and areola. Oxytocin causes the contraction of the myoepithelial cells that line the ducts of the mammary glands. The smooth muscle like cells, when stimulated, expel milk from alveoli into ducts and subareolar sinuses empty it through a nipple pore.
Both of these hormones act independently on different cellular receptors. For a successful process of lactation, the combined actions of these hormones are essential.
Background
It is proved and also noticed that breast milk or mother feed is the best form of nutrients for the newborn and infants. This milk contains dynamic amounts of bioactive substances that are initially important for the development of an infant which specially for the brain, immunity system, and gut development. This milk has dynamic properties to fight against the bacteria which develops in the neonates or infants. 90% of females choose to breastfeed their baby with proper counseling. The mother has to understand all the measures and benefits of breastfeeding.
Now let’s have a look at the two important pathophysiology events that are most important for lactation.
Mammogenesis
Mammogenesis is known as the growth and development of mammary glands (breast) which starts in the utero. A bulb-shaped mammary bud can be discerned in the fetus at 18-19 weeks of gestation. Inside the bud, a rudimentary mammary ductal system is formed, which is present at birth which proceeds the lactation.
The basic unit of the mammary gland is an ‘ALVEOLUS’ that connects to a ductule. Each ductule was believed to independently open to a duct that, in turn, drained into lactiferous sinuses. These lactiferous sinuses open into 15 to 25 openings in the nipple, allowing the breast milk to flow to the recipient infant.
Anatomically, the milk ducts appear to transport the milk rather than store it. The milk is stored in the breast fat tissues. When a female hits puberty, she releases estrogen that stimulates the breast tissue to enlarge through the growth of mammary ducts. Progesterone is secreted in the second half of the menstrual cycle. It limits the lobuloalveolar development. These effects of estrogen and progesterone facilitate the formation of the characteristic structure of an adult breast.
However, the full alveolar development and maturation of the epithelium layer of the breast require the hormones of pregnancy. In the 12 weeks of pregnancy 2nd trimester, from weeks 13 to 24 women may notice the biggest change of all in their breasts. They start making milk. Milk is made in the breasts from around 16 weeks of pregnancy. Some women never see a drop of milk coming from their nipple before the birth of their baby yet other women notice drops of milk leaking after they have warm baths. Other women notice a dry, sticky residue on their nipples when they wake up in the morning.
Progesterone releases during pregnancy that ensures your breasts do not start producing mature milk in large amounts until your baby is born. Therefore the woman will keep leaking small amounts of milk each day and not run out. The right amount of milk will come when the baby is born.
In the stage of mammogenesis the size and weight of breasts increases.
Lactogenesis
Lactogenesis is known as a cyclic process through which the mammary gland develops the capability to secrete milk to the recipient. In this phase, there is full lactation and a complete mature breast is formed which has the capacity to fully lactate. Lactogenesis is divided into two stages:
Stage 1:
Stage 1 starts in the mid of pregnancy. The mammary glands become competent to secrete milk. Lactose, total protein, and immunoglobulin concentrations increase within the glandular fluid. However, sodium and chloride concentrations decrease within the fluid. The gland gets ready for the secretion. Women often describe drops of colostrum (known as the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands) on their nipples in the 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester. However, high levels of releasing progesterone and estrogen hold the secretion of milk until the birth of the baby.
Stage 2:
Stage 2 occurs when the woman is about to deliver the baby. Progesterone plays a key role in this stage. Removal of the placenta that is the source of progesterone during pregnancy is necessary for the initiation of milk secretion. Progesterone receptors are inhibited when mammary glands start lactating. It decreases the release of progesterone hormone. The hormones which are required in the mobilization of nutrients and minerals which are essential for lactation are:
- Insulin
- Growth hormone (GH)
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- Cortisol
During the second stage of lactogenesis, the breast becomes capable of milk production and secretion. For the ongoing synthesis and secretion of breast milk, the mammary glands receive hormonal signals which are in direct response with the nipple and mammae i.e. the areola.
Then further, the lactation goes into two more phases that are:
Galactopoiesis
Maintenance of lactation that is the secretion of the milk is known as galactopoiesis. Later than 9 days after the birth of the baby until the beginning of involution. The establishment of the secretion of the milk is maintained by the Autocrine system which controls it with the supply and demand of the recipient.
Prolactin is released to maintain milking along with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and oxytocin are the hormones that are involved in this stage.
Involution
Basically, involution means shrinking or returning an organ to its former size. At the cellular level, involution is characterized by the process of proteolysis (that means the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids) of the basement membrane (basal lamina) which leads to the epithelial regression and apoptosis.
This phase occurs at an average of 40 days after the last breastfeeding period. Regular supplementation is added to this stage. Milk secretion decreases and the breast starts to build its own real shape from the buildup of inhibiting peptides.
Facts about human milk and its secretion
- Human milk or breast milk is a unique, specific, complex nutritive fluid with immunologic and growth-promoting agents. This unique fluid is actually produced naturally to meet the changing needs of the baby during growth and development mentally and physically. Milk synthesis and secretion by the mammary gland involve numerous cellular pathways and processes which are already discussed above.
- The regulation of milk synthesis is quite efficient. Milk synthesis remains constant at approximately 800 mL per day. However, the actual volume of milk secreted is adjusted to the requirement of the baby by a feedback inhibitor of lactation which is a local factor secreted into the milk. Therefore, the production rate of milk synthesis is related to the degree of breast emptiness or fullness. An empty breast produces milk faster than the filled ones.
- Milk production depends upon the state of the nursing mother, how well and strong she is to produce the milk. Thus, stress and fatigue adversely affect a mother’s milk production and supply. Relaxation and a healthy balanced diet are keys to successful lactation.
- The processing and amounts of nutrients within human milk changes with the time as the infant matures and starts growing. For example, early milk has lower concentrations of fat than mature milk but higher concentrations of protein and minerals are found in early milk. As the infant continues to breastfeed within the next few days, the fat content increases. This relationship reverses as the newborn matures and days of lactation increase.
- Human milk contains various types of enzymes. Some of them are specific for the biosynthesis of milk in the mammary gland which are lactose synthetase, fatty acid synthetase, thioesterase. Whereas other enzymes are specific for the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. They facilitate the infant’s ability to break down food and to absorb the breast milk. Certain enzymes also serve as a transport medium for other substances, such as zinc and magnesium.
- Seen under a microscope, the appearance of human milk is amazing. Although it is a fluid still human milk has a substantial structure in the form of compartments. Nutrients and bioactive substances are sequenced within the compartments in human milk.
- Human milk contains many of the different antibodies like M, A, D, G, E but secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is the most abundant among all. During the weeks before the endogenous production, in the infants sIgA is a significant source of passively acquired immunity. During this period of the reduced neonatal gut immune function, the infant has a limited defense against the ingested pathogens. Therefore, sIgA is an important protective factor against infection present in human milk.
- Human milk has a number of factors that can affect the intestinal microflora of the baby. These factors enhance the colonization of some bacteria while inhibiting the colonization of other harmful bacteria.
- Human milk also contains many growth modulators, such as epidermal growth factors (EGF), nerve growth factors (NGF), insulin like growth factors (IGFs), and interleukins. Transforming growth factors (TGF)–alpha, TGF-beta, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) are also found in human milk.
- These bioactive compounds are found in higher concentrations in the milk of mothers who delivered prematurely compared with those who delivered after completing the full period.
- Certain bioactive substances and live cells in milk appear to influence the baby’s gut development and maturation through their transfer of developmental information to the newborn.
FAQs
Q.) Is it possible to lactate without pregnancy?
A.) Yes it is possible to induce lactate without being pregnant. It is because of the high release of sex hormones which are because of sexual desire or intercourse. It generates signals to release progesterone and oxytocin which induces milk or colostrum secretion.
Q.) What inhibits the lactation?
A.) Lactation is inhibited by the high release of sex hormones during pregnancy. They inhibit milk secretion after birth or during the breastfeeding period. The newly pregnant females should avoid estrogen based deliveries because it drops the chances for milking and breastfeeding.
Lactation can be depressed when oral contraceptives are taken in high dosage.
Q.) When does the breast fill?
A.) the breast is filled at the time of birth and the mothers do not typically begin to feel to increased the breast filling. The sensation of milk coming in the breast is not until 50 to 73 hours that makes 2 to 3 days after birth.
Q.) Can lactation be induced by other biological factors?
A.) Lactation is seen in humans by a combination of biological, physical, and psychological factor stimulation by drugs, or by a combination of some different methods. Some people stimulate lactation other than pregnancy for sexual purposes.
Q.) is there any drug for lactation?
A.) Multiple drugs that are used to induce lactation or increase milk production and supply are:
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Domperidone (Motilium)
- Eglonyl
- Dolmatil
- Sulpitil
- Sulparex
- Equemote
Q.) Which drugs can stop milk supply?
A.) it can give possibly dangerous side effects to stop lactation with medications. It is better and safe if it stops on its own. The drugs which induce milk supply are:
- Cabergoline (Dostinex)
- Antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- Birth control pills containing estrogen
- Decongestants and other medications containing pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed, Zyrtec-D, Claritin-D, and Allegra-D
- Fertility medications like clomiphene (Clomid)
- Dopamine agonists
Before you leave!
Breastfeeding and lactation is an art and a feeling, something mother and baby shares. It is a gift from ALLAH which the mother transfers to the newborn. Sometimes the process may be accompanied by challenges and problems but it gets better with the time rather than going for options to stop it. As the demand of baby reduces, lactation stops. Women may also notice the appearance of some stretch marks on your breasts after involution. These are normal as rapid growth happened and then shrunk to its normal size. It is really important to check your breasts each month after the lactation stops for lumps and unusual changes. If there are noticeable changes in any new lumps, pain, redness, or nipple changes other than darkening or size increases or any colored substance which is yellow, clear, or white leaking from your nipple then it is advised to immediately report to the doctor.