Lactation

Question 1

What is the importance of breast feeding in terms of poverty?

Answer 1

That it is a natural safety net against the worst effects of poverty, exclusively breast feeding goes a long way to cancelling out the health difference between the poorer and wealthier of society, giving a child a fairer start in life.

Question 2

How many babies at 12 months receive breast milk in 2016 (two stats)?

Answer 2

1 in 5 in high income countries and 1 in 3 in low to middle income countries.

Question 3

Breast feeding decreases infant … and can prevent breast …?

Answer 3

Mortality, cancer

Question 4

What is the economic benefit of breast feeding?

Answer 4

Not being breast fed enough can result in lower cognition which causes economic loses and it could reduce illnesses of infants like pneumonia and diarrhoea which costs heath care systems a lot.

Question 5

Environmental impact of breast feeding?

Answer 5

Formula has a high carbon and waste footprint, breast feeding contributes to sustainability and food security.

Question 6

What does high blood, lymph and nerve supply in breasts create sensitivity for?

Answer 6

The milk ejection reflex/ let down reflex.

Question 7

Structure of breast and benefit of this?

Answer 7

20 lobes connected by connective tissue, which helps prevent infection

Question 8

What does estrogen do to breasts in puberty?

Answer 8

Stimulates mamo genesis so they increase to adult size.

Question 9

What does HPL, progesterone and other hormones do in pregnancy?

Answer 9

Complete breast development, so they lead on to producing milk for the infant.

Question 10

What and where are lactocytes?

Answer 10

milk producing cells in the alveoli in the breasts

Question 11

How in milk pushed downwards towards the nipple?

Answer 11

The alveoli in the breasts are surrounded by myoepithelial cells which contract when exposed to oxytosin.

Question 12

What do Montgomery tubercles do?

Answer 12

Secrete sebaceous fluid to lubricate the nipples and has a scent which attracts infant.

Question 13

What happens after birth and loss of placenta in terms of lactation?

Answer 13

progesterone levels fall milk producing hormone (prolactin) levels rise

Question 14

What does skin to skin contact do in terms of lactation?

Answer 14

stimulates prolactin, switches on lactocytes to produce milk.

Question 15

What is feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL)?

Answer 15

a protein in breastmilk which controls milk production and protects the breasts. The more full the breasts become the more FIL decreasing milk production and vice versa. So stopping breast feeding for a while can cause milk to dry up/ supply be not as good.

Question 16

How does prolactin and oxytocin effect the mood of mother and infant?

Answer 16

produces calmness and helps mother fall in love with infant.

Question 16

Delete

Question 17

Keeping infant close to mother generates what?

Answer 17

Oxytocin which in time mother will associate keeping infant close with good feelings, this is a psychological effect

Question 18

What should happen soon after birth?

Answer 18

Skin to skin contact with mother and baby for good breast feeding

Question 19

What is important during the first feeding of the baby?

Answer 19

That there is skin to skin contact between mother and baby no matter what type of feeding is being done.

Question 20

Positive effects of skin to skin contact between mother and baby?

Answer 20

Triggers calming in baby and regulates its breathing and heartbeat. Helps baby to seek breast and attach and suckle. Also colonised babies skin with microbes from mother and father which is protective. Young babies need to be close to feel safe and produces oxytocin which is essential for their brain development.

Question 21

When is it inconvenient but essential for a baby to feed? Why? Safety around this?

Answer 21

During the night, they have high nutritional needs but very small stomachs so its good to keep the baby near the bed but not in the bed.

Question 22

Mothers quite often give up on breast feeding because it’s painful what can be done about this?

Answer 22

They need to change the positioning and attachment of baby and breast feeding this should also making breast feeding not painful. Need to be supportive and encouraging about this.

Question 23

How should mothers thinking about breast feeding?

Answer 23

For providing food, comfort, nurture.

Question 24

Can you over feed a breast fed infant?

Answer 24

no

Question 25

Why is there different recommendations for energy for breast fed and formula fed babies?

Answer 25

Because formula feed is not as well absorbed.