Positive Feedback Mechanism

Occurs in lactation, during which a mother produces milk for her infant. During pregnancy,
levels of the hormone prolactin increase. Prolactin normally stimulates milk production, but during
pregnancy, progesterone inhibits milk production. At birth, when the placenta is released from the
uterus, progesterone levels drop. As a result, milk production surges. As the baby feeds, its
suckling stimulates the breast, promoting further release of prolactin, resulting in yet more milk
production. This positive feedback ensures the baby has sufficient milk during feeding. When the
baby is weaned and no longer nurses from the mother, stimulation ceases and prolactin in the
mother’s blood reverts to pre-breastfeeding levels (Nelms, 2010).

Reference:

Nelms M., Sucher K., et. al. (2010). Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.