[52] Lactation Flashcards
What is lactation?
The maternal physiological response whereby milk is secreted from the mammary glands to feed the infant
What % of people in the UK breastfed in the UK in 2010?
81%
What proportion of mothers in the UK were still breast-feeding after 6 months?
1/3
What % of mothers in the UK were exclusively breastfeeding after 6 months?
1%
Which mothers are more likely to breastfeed?
- Those from a minority ethnic groups
- Those in managerial and professional occupations
- Aged over 30
- First-time mothers
Where are the mammary glands?
Embedded in the breasts
What do the mammary glands comprise of?
15-20 lobulated masses of tissue with fibrous tissue connecting the lobes, and adipose tissue in between
What are the lobes of the breast made up of?
Alveoli, blood vessels, and lactiferous ducts
How many ducts are present in the breast at birth?
Only a few
What happens to the ducts in the breast at puberty?
Oestrogen causes the ducts to sprout, and the ends form masses of cells that later become alveoli
What happens to the breasts with each menstrual cycle?
There are cyclic changes
What causes the cyclic changes in the breast during the menstrual cycle?
Changes in oestrogen and progesterone
What happens to the breasts during pregnancy?
- There is significant hypertrophy of the ductal-lobular-alveolar system
- Prominent lobules form
- From mid-gestation, alveolar cells differentiate to be capable of milk production
Is there milk secretion during pregnancy?
A little
Why is there only a little milk secretion during pregnancy?
Due to the high progesterone:oestrogen ratio, which favours growth rather than secretion
What cells are responsible for milk production?
The alveolar epithelial cells
Describe the alveolar epithelial cells of the breast
They are polarised, highly differentiated cells
What is the function of the alveolar epithelial cells of the breast?
To accumulate, synthesise, package, and export the components of milk
What do the breasts start producing soon after birth?
40ml/day of colostrum
What does colostrum contain more of than normal milk?
- Proteins, particularly immunoglobulins
- Fat soluble vitamins
What does colostrum contain less of than normal milk?
- Water soluble vitamins
- Fat
- Sugar
What does mature breast milk contain?
- Water
- Lactose
- Fat
- Protein
- Minerals
- Vitamins
What % of mature breast milk is water?
90%
What % of mature breast milk is lactose?
7%
What % of mature breast milk is fat?
2%
What % of mature breast milk is protein?
1%
What % of mature breast milk is minerals?
0.2%
What vitamins are found in mature breast milk?
- A
- B
- B2
- C
- D
- E
- K
What controls the regulation and content of breast milk?
Largely under hormonal control, primarily prolactin
Describe the hormones in pregnancy?
There is a high progesterone:oestrogen ratio
What is the result of the high progesterone:oestrogen ratio in pregnancy on the breasts?
Favours the development of alveoli, but not secretin of milk
What causes the change in oestrogen:progesterone ratio after pregnancy?
The delivery of the placenta
Why does the delivery of the placenta change the hormone balance in pregnancy?
Because the placenta is the source of a large amount of circulating steroids (more so progesterone), and so its removal changes the ratio
What is the result in the reduction in progesterone after the delivery of the placenta?
It allows the alveoli to respond to prolactin
How long after pregnancy does breast milk begin to form?
24-48 hours
What is prolactin?
A polypeptide hormone
What is prolactin secreted by?
The anterior pituitary gland
What controls prolactin section by the anterior pituitary gland?
Dopamine
What is dopamine also known as?
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone
It actually is i checked it even tho this seems kinda fake news?
Where is dopamine secreted from?
- Hypothalamus
- Decidual cells
What do factors that promote secretion of prolactin do?
Reduce dopamine secretion
What is prolactin stimulation promoted by?
Suckling
What kind of reflex is the sucking causing prolactin stimulation?
Neuro-endocrine reflex
How does suckling stimulate prolactin?
It mechanically stimulates receptors in the nipple and impulses pass up the brainstem and to the hypothalamus to reduce the secretion of dopamine and increase vasoactive intestinal protein
What does vasoactive intestinal protein do?
Promotes prolactin secretion
What does suckling at one feed do?
Promotes prolactin release, which causes production for the next feed