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Special cells inside your breasts make milk. These cells are called alveoli (al-VEE-uh-leye). When your breasts become fuller and tender during pregnancy, this is a sign that the alveoli are getting ready to work. Some women do not feel these changes in their breasts. Some women experience breast changes after their baby is born. If you have a question about your breast changes, you can ask your doctor or a lactation consultant.
The alveoli make milk in response to the hormone prolactin, which rises when the baby suckles. Another hormone, oxytocin (oks-ee-TOH-suhn), causes these small muscles around the cells to contract and move the milk through a series of small tubes called milk ducts. The milk ducts are located underneath the nipple and areola (air-ee-OH-luh), which is the darker skin that circles your nipple. Oxytocin also contracts the muscle of the uterus during and after birth. This helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. The release of both prolactin and oxytocin may be responsible in part for a mother's intense feeling of needing to be with her baby.
Source: Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Knowing how the breast is made and how it works to produce milk can help you understand the breastfeeding process. The breast itself is a gland that is composed of several parts, including glandular tissue, connective tissue, blood, lymph, nerves, and fatty tissue. Fatty tissue is what mostly affects the size of a woman's breast. Breast size does not have an effect on the amount of milk or the quality of milk a woman makes.
Special cells inside your breasts make milk. These cells are called alveoli (al-VEE-uh-leye). When your breasts become fuller and tender during pregnancy, this is a sign that the alveoli are getting ready to work. Some women do not feel these changes in their breasts. Some women experience breast changes after their baby is born. If you have a question about your breast changes, you can ask your doctor or a lactation consultant.
The alveoli make milk in response to the hormone prolactin, which rises when the baby suckles. Another hormone, oxytocin (oks-ee-TOH-suhn), causes these small muscles around the cells to contract and move the milk through a series of small tubes called milk ducts. The milk ducts are located underneath the nipple and areola (air-ee-OH-luh), which is the darker skin that circles your nipple. Oxytocin also contracts the muscle of the uterus during and after birth. This helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. The release of both prolactin and oxytocin may be responsible in part for a mother's intense feeling of needing to be with her baby.
Source: Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Date Added: 2009-04-13 Views : 158