Entero-mammary pathway Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the enteromammary pathway. How does this work, that Mom seeds the newborn’s gut biome through breastfeeding?
A
Beneficial bacteria provided by breast milk act as seeds in the infant’s gut, which helps in selecting future generations of bacteria to enhance immune function.
It begins with the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland and prolactin from the anterior pituitary gland via the suckling of the baby. Prolactin specifically initiates the production of breastmilk from the breast. Breastmilk contains antibodies, high amounts of fat, protein and nutrients, and lots of beneficial bacteria. Breastmilk changes based off of baby’s needs as time goes on.
