How is breast milk produced? What is the mechanism and principle of its formation? What can and cannot be done while breastfeeding? What you need to know about lactation How to preserve the beneficial properties of mother's milk? Women often have to find answers to these and many other questions on their own. So this is just one thing - it's time to find out the most relevant and useful information about breastfeeding.
All the benefits of mother's milk
Is it worth talking about how useful breast milk is for the harmonious growth and development of the baby? Natural feeding is one of the most important factors for a he althy future baby. A woman must eat right to provide her child with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients that stimulate his development.
Breastfeeding is especially relevant inthe first months of a child's life. The baby has just been born - for a tiny organism this is a lot of stress. The small ventricle is just starting its work, so the food of the baby should be maximally adapted to the capabilities of the still fragile organ. And there is nothing better than what was invented by nature itself - mother's milk. In addition, the baby desperately needs bodily contact with his mother. Regular breastfeeding at the request of the baby is the best way to communicate with the baby, which provokes the production of mother's milk.
Why breastfeed?
Mom's milk is both food and drink. Therefore, the baby may not be given water if he is breastfed (only if it is very hot). Nature has provided for everything: the composition of mother's milk, and the mechanism of its production, and the very meaning of the process of breastfeeding.
Mother's milk contains the necessary proteins and fats, essential amino acids and carbohydrates, a wide variety of trace elements and vitamins - all this is contained in the right composition and the right amount. In addition, there are white blood cells in the milk of a nursing woman, which increase the resistance of a small organism to pathogens and infections. Simply put, mother's milk is a natural antibiotic that strengthens the baby's immune system.
Breast milk is characterized by optimal temperature, sterility and readiness for consumption at any time. Lactation contributes to the formation of a close bond between a woman and a child. Many note that regular application tothe breast contributes to the emergence of maternal instinct (in case it suddenly has not been developed until now).
When sucking the breast (soft, pliable and elastic), the baby develops the correct bite, immunity is formed. It is known that breast milk is produced from the blood, which means that the mother's diet must be complete and balanced.
How to prepare for lactation?
Before you learn how breast milk is produced, you should get acquainted with equally important information on how to prepare the mammary glands for breastfeeding. So, even during pregnancy, you should pay attention to the shape and size of the nipples. They can be pronounced, flat, or even retracted. It should be recalled that the baby suckles directly at the breast itself, and not at the nipple. But still, with a convenient form of the latter, it will be much easier and more pleasant to eat. Women who have been blessed by nature with flat or inverted nipples should not be upset - you just need to prepare them for feeding.
It is possible to apply special caps made of silicone to the areolas (nipple area of dark color) - they have a hole into which the nipple is pulled out. It is recommended to wear this attribute 3-4 weeks before the expected date of birth and 30 minutes before feeding in the first month of a baby's life. If a woman did not have time to solve the problem with nipples before childbirth, you should not despair. Using a breast pump will correct this situation. Too much to worry about how longbreast milk is produced, do not.
Mechanism of breast milk production
Now it's time to learn how breast milk is produced. For this, you will have to look into the course of human anatomy. It is worth knowing how the female breast is arranged. Milk is produced directly by the mammary gland itself under the influence of the hormone oxytocin (it is also responsible for the mechanism for the formation of contractions during childbirth) and prolactin (its concentration increases when the baby suckles).
These two hormones are produced by the pituitary gland, a specific gland located in the lower part of the brain. As soon as the concentration of prolactin increases, milk production is stimulated. Oxytocin, in turn, pushes the product through the contraction of the muscles that are located around the cells responsible for the formation of milk. Further along the milk ducts, it enters the nipple and the woman may feel the swelling of the mammary glands.
Many are interested in how long breast milk is produced. The rate of its production depends directly on the degree of breast emptying. In a filled mammary gland, it arrives slowly, while in an emptied mammary gland, milk production occurs much faster. Strong stay contributes to the frequent attachment of the baby to the chest. Intensive work of the mammary glands is noted in the first 3-4 months of a child's life. In the future, this process slows down. Now it became clear where breast milk is produced from. Now you can get acquainted with another, no less interesting,information.
How does the composition of breast milk change?
Throughout the entire period of lactation, its composition changes. This can be seen in its texture and color. By understanding how breast milk is produced, you can study its composition and characteristics throughout the lactation period.
So, in the first days after childbirth, "colostrum" is produced - a thick and sticky substance of a yellowish tint, which contains in its composition immune proteins that are essential for the formation of strong immunity in the baby. They are needed to adapt the sterile body of the baby to environmental conditions. Colostrum is secreted in droplets, but even this amount is enough for the child to get enough.
The so-called transitional milk appears approximately 3-4 days after birth. It is more liquid in consistency, but its composition is practically the same as colostrum.
How is breast milk produced in a woman in the future? Around the 3rd week after birth, mature milk moves through the milk ducts to the nipples - it is liquid, white in color and not as fatty as colostrum. Its composition fully meets the needs of a small organism.
What you need to know about milk?
It is almost 90% water, so it is not worth it to give the child a special drink (this can only be done in hot weather). Breast milk contains about 3-4% fat, but thisthe indicator may change.
At the very beginning of feeding, the so-called foremilk is secreted, which accumulates around the nipple. It is non-greasy and translucent. We can say that this is water for a child. There is much more fat in hind milk - it enters the baby's body immediately after the first portion. In the first months of lactation, milk is richer in fat compared to that produced in the 5th-6th month of a child's life.
Essential amino acids are present in mother's milk. There are also immune proteins (approximately 1%), carbohydrates (approximately 7%), lactose, white blood cells, as well as essential vitamins and other beneficial substances.
Full or hungry?
Sometimes a nursing mother is not at all interested in how a woman's breast milk is produced. There are things that cause much more interest - is there enough breast milk for the baby? There are certain factors and indicators that will help answer this question.
First of all, new mothers should be reminded that the baby should be applied to the breast as soon as he wants to. It’s easy to understand: the baby whimpers, sucks on a fist, turns its head in different directions (looking for a nipple), opens its mouth wide. On average, this is 11-13 times a day.
In order for the baby to get enough, it should be properly applied to the breast. The baby should suck rhythmically for 5-20 minutes. At this time, you can hear the characteristic sounds of swallowing. A newborn can fall asleep under the breast - there is nothing to worry about. A hungry child will never be calm. By the way, the baby can suckle the breast not only whenhungry - the baby grabs the nipple with great pleasure to soothe, comfort, to remove gas, fall asleep, etc.
If the baby is gaining weight well, is not naughty and meets all developmental parameters, mom has nothing to worry about. This means that the baby is full. Therefore, new mothers should not once again ask themselves the question of how much breast milk should be produced.
How to stimulate lactation?
Everyone knows that breast milk is produced from the blood. Based on this, we can conclude that for its enhanced production, it is necessary to eat foods that have a lactogenic effect. But the question of how much breast milk is produced is asked by many. Here are some tips to help stimulate the feeding process and adequate breast milk production:
- As already mentioned, two hormones are responsible for the production of breast milk - prolactin and oxytocin. They are produced when the baby suckles at the breast. It only means that regular application is the most important condition for stimulating lactation. Nighttime application is essential as oxytocin is especially released at night.
- Happy mom - he althy and calm baby. This condition means that a woman should avoid stressful situations and nervous strain, mental and physical fatigue.
- Constant contact with the baby also increases the production of oxytocin.
- Warm shower and gentle massagingmammary glands.
- Special teas for nursing mothers (available at the pharmacy).
- Royal jelly is one of the most effective ways to improve breast milk production.
- Walnuts and honey are natural stimulants. You should only use honey carefully, as it is a fairly strong allergen.
A breastfeeding woman should give up bad habits.
Expressing milk
Studying the question of how long milk is produced after eating, you should pay attention to such a moment as pumping. In what cases is it necessary? How to do it right and why? These and many other questions will be answered right away.
Pumping required:
- If you need to feed a sick or premature baby (in the case when the baby cannot breastfeed).
- If you urgently need to leave the child for a while.
- When milk stagnates to prevent the formation of an inflammatory process.
- If there is an enhanced performance of the mammary glands.
Many women may be hesitant to pump. First of all, they are concerned about how much milk is produced. What if a woman expresses her breasts, and the baby wakes up and wants to eat? To prevent this from happening, you need to feed the baby well and only then express the rest of the milk.
Properties and characteristics
We have already learned where milk comes from. Nowyou can get acquainted with the properties of this product and its distinctive features.
- For babies, it is a source of drink and food.
- It contains special enzymes that help a small body adapt to other products.
- In the process of feeding, under the influence of oxytocin, the baby calms down. The same thing happens with mom.
- Breast milk has anti-cancer properties.
- Helps boost baby's immunity.
- It has antibacterial properties (so it can be dropped into the spout for cleansing).
- Breast milk forms a strong barrier that protects the baby's body from food allergies.
In addition, natural nutrition prevents the formation of disorders of the digestive system. Experienced mothers know that breast-fed babies are much less likely to suffer from colic and other digestive problems.
Many women are concerned about the question of why little breast milk is produced? The answer is very simple: the fault is a rare breastfeeding. Studies have shown that full breasts significantly slow down the milk production process. And this only means that only frequent attachment of the baby to the breast will contribute to a sufficient amount of the product.
What is the relationship between a woman's diet and breast milk production?
In fact, the amount and rate of filling of the mammary glands has nothing to do with the nutrition of a nursing mother. Simplyspeaking, do not eat everything in unlimited quantities - this can cause the appearance of extra pounds, which the new mother is completely useless.
At the same time, diets and other dietary restrictions are strictly prohibited! You need to eat normally. It is advisable to diversify your diet with more he althy and nutritious foods: more vegetables, fruits and cereals. Mom must remember that everything that she consumes enters the body of the child. Therefore, you should be very careful with products that can cause an allergic reaction.
However, there are some foods that can indirectly affect the quality of breast milk. So, for example, onions or garlic give infant food a specific flavor. But this does not mean at all that the baby will categorically refuse to eat, it is quite possible that he will like it.
Some surprising facts about milk
In order for breast milk to stop being produced, it is enough to block the production of prolactin and oxytocin. Many people prefer to use special medications for this. However, experts recommend refraining from this - after all, mother's milk is the best food for a baby. In addition, after 6 months of feeding, the intensity of milk production decreases by itself - the baby can already be introduced to complementary foods, so a woman can simply "dress up". This is just in case she doesn't know what to do to stop producing breast milk.
Now some fun facts about nutritionbaby.
- Daytime breastmilk is different from nighttime. The latter is more fatty and nutritious. The composition of the product may vary depending on the delivery (natural childbirth or caesarean section) and even on the season (more water in milk in summer than in winter).
- Breast milk is only good for the baby. Moms often think about how it tastes and try. In fact, the production of the mammary glands is useless for the adult body and can even be harmful, since the digestive tract has already learned how to process it. Therefore, now fashionable pastries from breast milk are just a publicity stunt.
- You should not stick to a special diet for a nursing mother. It is enough to recall only how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers fed babies in the war and post-war years. Could they afford an abundance of fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts and grains? Nevertheless, they were able to raise he althy and strong children. Nature arranged everything in an amazing way: as soon as the period of eruption of the first teeth begins, mother's milk is somehow surprisingly saturated with calcium. And at the time when the baby begins to intensively explore the world around him, mother's milk will become rich in proteins necessary for the baby.
- The most magical food is colostrum. It is produced in small quantities, but even 2 ml will be enough for 7 ml of the stomach. In fact, colostrum is the first vaccination of the baby, as it contains various hormones, beneficial bacteria and antibodies. Interestingly, the composition of colostrum changes all 3 days, throughoutwhich it is produced.
- For those who are wondering how long breastmilk takes, we can tell you that the women's "dairy factory" is open around the clock.
- A woman can feel a flush of milk - it is a kind of tingling in her chest.
- The size of the breast does not affect the amount of milk in it.
Another interesting fact is that women don't menstruate while breastfeeding because oxytocin blocks the ovaries.
True or myth?
Moms, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and other "more experienced mothers" love to teach and give advice to new parents on what to do and how to do it right. This is especially true for breastfeeding. So, there is an opinion that nuts, tea with condensed milk and even dill water literally stimulate the strongest production of breast milk. Actually it is not. The intensity of staying in the breast directly depends on the frequency of attachment of the child to the breast and the degree of its emptiness.
Explore some more common lactation myths.
- About allergies and products that provoke it. Everyone everywhere repeats that a nursing woman should carefully review her diet. The ban includes bread, "colored" vegetables and fruits, cabbage, chocolate, nuts, honey, etc. Here it is necessary to draw a clear line between two concepts: food intolerance and allergy.
- A lot of water - a lot of milk. This is another mythwhich has no scientific basis. Recall again - only frequent attachment of the baby to the breast.
- Dangerous products. We are talking about the notorious citrus fruits, chocolate and berries, which allegedly can provoke an allergic reaction. Breast milk contains special antibodies that block allergens. But a special "anti-allergy diet" is a direct way to feed a child who is more prone to allergies.
- There are special drugs that increase the quantity and improve the quality of breast milk. This is another common, but not confirmed opinion. Another marketing ploy - that's all. It is much cheaper and safer to use homemade teas and herbal decoctions (only this should be done with extreme caution).
Nursing mothers will certainly be interested in how food gets into the baby's food and how quickly breast milk is produced after eating. It is worth considering this issue in more detail.
Mechanism of penetration of beneficial and nutrients into milk
As soon as food or liquid enters the stomach, they are split and penetrate into the blood, which accelerates through the vessels, including those in the mammary glands. The same happens with certain medications. Milk is renewed immediately after harmful substances are removed from the blood. For some drugs, it is 8-12 hours.
Experts recommend sometimes expressing the first milk, as it contains the highest concentrationharmful substances.
What else is there to say about breastfeeding? Only that its necessity in the first year of a baby's life is obvious. Natural feeding of the baby is the key to its harmonious growth and development, as well as a strong bond with the mother.
One can only hope that this article helped to find answers to many questions, including understanding how and how much breast milk is produced.
