When the placenta is
released after the birth of the baby a surge of
hormones called—prolactin & oxytocin, are released
that stimulate the making of milk.
When the baby is nursing,
tiny nerve fibers
around the areola (the dark area of the breast
& nipple) are stimulated that remind the body to
make more milk.
Prolactin is called-on
by the pituitary—in the brain, to store milk in
the mother's breast.
Oxytocin is also
stimulated by the pituitary to release the milk from
the breast as the baby is nursing.
The baby continues the
cycle as the nerve fibers around the areola are
stimulated with each feeding.
Milk production increases each time the baby
nutritiously nurses at the breast. The more the
baby nurses the more milk is made. The less often the baby
nurses the less milk there will be.
Problems occur when the
transfer of milk from mother to baby is interrupted. This
occurs when;
The
baby is suckling at the tip of nipple, pinching the
openings, causing cracking and bleeding. Or the
mother follows a schedule and doesn't nurse when the
baby is hungry.
