CONCEPTS OF

BREASTFEEDING
ANATOMY OF BREAST
 BREASTFEEDING
INTRODUCTION:
 Breast milk is the most
nutritious food for babies. It
also protects from infection,
allergies and some chronic
disease and child cancer.

 Breastfeeding allows eye-

to-eye contact and physical
closeness, strengthening the
bond between the child and
mother.
 BREASTFEEDING
DEFINITION :
 Breastfeeding is the feeding a
neonate / infant with breast milk
directly from female human
breasts.
 According to the WHO & AAP
breastfeeding is the normal way
of providing young infants with
the nutrients they need for
healthy growth & development.
 PHYSIOLOGY OF
LACTATION
DEFINITION OF
LACTATION:
 lactation describes the
production of breast milk
& its secretion from the
mammary gland after
delivery
 PHYSIOLOGY OF
LACTATION
Lactation can be divided

into 5 stages:
 Mammogenesis

 Lactogenesis

 Galactokinesis

 Galactopoiesis

 Involution
 MAMMOGENESIS

 It is a development of breasts to a
functional state
 Growth of ducts & lobuloalveolar
systems.
 Ductal sprouting predominates in 1st
trimester & lobular sprouting occurs
in 2nd trimester hence the breast will
contain more glandular epithelial
cells.
 Before & during parturition there Is a
new wave of mitotic activity causing
growth & maturation.
 MAMMOGENESIS

Hormonal influence during

mammogenesis:
 Depends on estrogen & progestrone

 Secretion of prolactin & somatotropin

by the pituitary gland results in
mammmarry growth.
 ACTH & TSH also play a minor role in
growth of the mammary gland.
 MAMMOGENESIS
PROGESTRONE:
 Increased growth of alveoli size &
lobes.

ESTROGEN:
 Stimulates milk duct system to grow &
deposition of fat.

PROLACTIN:
 Increased growth & differentiation of
the alveoli & ductal structures.
 LACTOGENESIS
 Synthesis & secretion of milk from the breast
alveoli.

LACTOGENESIS (STAGE I)
 There is initiation of milk synthesis,

 Alveoli differentiates in to secretory cells &

prolactin stimulates mammary secretory cells
to produce milk.
 Presence of cortisol for formation of alveoli is
required for induction of milk synthesis.
 LACTOGENESIS

STAGE II:

Its from late pregnancy to day 8.

 This is triggered by rapid drop in
progesterone levels after delivery.
 The presence of elevated levels of prolactin,
cortisol, insulin, GH & PTH to facilitate
mobilization of nutrients & minerals.
 There is a switch from endocrine to
autocrine control.
 GALACTOKINESIS

Ejection of milk outside the breast.

 Depends on the suckling mechanism of the
baby & the contractility action which will
express milk from the alveoli into the ducts.
 This contraction is brought about by the action
of oxytocin.
 Milk let down reflex / milk ejection reflex

 Inhibited by psychic condition / pain / breast

engorgement.
GALACTOKINESIS
 GALACTOPOIESIS

Maintenance of lactation
 prolactin is the hormone for
maintenance of lactation.
 Suckling is essential for maintenance of
milk secretion.
 Periodic breastfeeding relieves
pressure in the ducts & promotes more
secretion.
 Controlled by autocrine system.
 INVOLUTION
 When other feeds / foods satisfy
appetitie
 Baby suckle less so the milk
production decreases & milk in the
breast is reabsorbed.
 Last milk produced is more like
colostrum with many protective
bodies
 BREAST MILK
DEFINITION:
 Breast milk is a liquid source of food made
by the human body to nourish babies.

 The body creates it in response to

pregnancy & the suckling of a baby at the
breast. It contains immunologic agents &
other compounds that act against viruses.
BREAST MILK
 BREAST MILK

TYPES OF BREAST MILK:

COLOSTRUM(1-5 days):

It is the 1st type of breast milk. Thick, sticky

& pale orange to yellow in color.

It is reacher in proteins, minerals,

immunoglobulins, anti inflammatory
factors, phagocytes & lymphocytes.
 BREAST MILK

TRANSITION MILK:
 within 4 days the colostrum gets
replaced by this creamy & thin milk
called transitional milk.
 It contains high amounts of fat,
calories, proteins, lactose & vitamins.
 It appears more watery it sufficient for
the baby at this stage of development.
 BREAST MILK

MATURE MILK:

After 10-15 days, mature milk starts

producing. Mature milk has 87% of water.

High water level maintains hydration of the

baby. It will necessary for overall growth
& healthy development of the baby.

Mature milk has 2 phases:

FORE MILK

HIND MILK
 BREAST MILK

FORE MILK:
 Foremilk comes in the beginning &
might look bluish in colour.
 It contains water, vitamins &
proteins

HIND MILK:
 White in colour it necessary for
weight gain of babies
 BREAST FEEDING

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING FOR BABY:

 It will helps to reduce the risk of,
 Obesity
 Type I DM
 SIDS
 Pneumonia & other respiratory infection
 GI illnesses, chron’s disease
 Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
 UTI
 Meningitis
 Childhood cancer, liver disease
 BREASTFEEDING

BENEFITS OF MOTHER:
 Lose pregnancy weight faster

 Avoid severe PPH

 Lower risk of breast & ovarian cancer

 Lower risk of osteoporosis

 Build a strong bond between mother & baby

 BREASTFEEDING

CONTRAINDICATION:
 Hiv infection

 Active TB

 Herpe’s lesions

 Phenylketouria

 Anticancer therapy
 MILK PRODUCTION
 A healthy mother will produce about 500-
800 ml of milk / day.
 This requires 600 kcal/ day for the mother
which must be made up from the mother’s
diet or from her body store.
 For this purpose a store of about 5 kg of
fat during pregnancy is essential to make
up any nutritional deficit during lactation.
 FACTORS AFFECTING
LACTATION
Maternal problems:
 Stress
 PCOD
 Obesity
 Labour analgesia
 Placenta retention
 Alcohol dependence
Infants problems:
 Infrequent suckling
 Premature infants