Breast Milk Production

Lactation & The Structure Of Breast

Breast milk production is dependent on hormones, blood supply and our general physical and mental condition. It is essential to get in touch with the structure or anatomy of this important body part.

Breast Milk Production & Its Quantity:

In the first week after the birth of baby, the total amount of milk yield in 24 hours is calculated to be 60 multiplied by the number of days after the child birth and it is expressed in ml or milliliters.

Milk on 4th day after child birth would be about 60X4 = 240 ml. A milk yield of 120 to 180 ml per feeding is reached by the end of second week.

Stimulation Of Breast Milk Production:

Following methods can be adopted to improve adequate milk yield.

During Pregnancy

• To improve the maternal instinct to nurse or breast feed the baby, mention the advantages of breast feeding.
• Take proper care and prepare the nipple and learn how to express the colostrum (the milk secreted during pregnancy and early days just after child birth) and to take care of the crust formed on the nipples.

Following Delivery Or Child Birth:

• If the conditions permit, allow the baby to be put to breast for 3 minutes at 3-6 hourly intervals on the very first day.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Express the milk with your hands before the breast feeding. It is a good step to avoid engorgement and trapping of milk in the breast.

Understanding The Anatomy For Breast Milk Production:

The breasts are glands on both side of chest wall and in females they are accessory reproductive organs as these mammary glands are involved with lactation after childbirth.

The shapes of breasts varies in women and also in different periods of life. But the size of base of breast is fairly constant. The base of breast extends from second to sixth rib in the line passing through mid of the collar bone.

The breast lies between the subcutaneous tissue below the skin and over the fascia of pectoralis major muscle. Sometimes a prolongation into the sides or axilla (Axillary tail) is also present.

The Structure Or Anatomy Of Non-Lactating Breasts:

Nipple is the muscular projection that is covered by pigmented skin. This part has blood vessels and is surrounded by involuntary muscles that makes it erectile. Nipple accommodates 15-20 lactiferous ducts and their openings.

Areola is placed around the nipple or the center of breast. This pigmented area is 2.5 cm in diameter. Numerous sebaceous glands that secrete some oily material are placed over the areola.

The whole breast is embedded with fatty tissue under the skin. The fatty tissue is absent under the nipple and areola.

Each breast is divided into 15-20 lobes or segments by fibrous partitions that radiate from the center. Each lobe is made up of chiefly fibrous and fatty tissue. The glandular tissue consists of duct system in non-lactating breast.

One lactiferous duct drains each lobe. Each duct divides and subdivides and ends into 100-150 alveoli. Each alveoli has epithelial cells that secrete the milk originally. This is the unit of breast milk production.

A network of branching lengthwise striated cells or Myoepithelial cells surround the alveoli and smaller ducts. There is a dense network of blood capillaries around the alveolus. Contraction of these cells squeezes the alveoli and ejects the milk into larger duct.

Below and behind the nipple, the main duct dilates to form Ampulla where the milk is stored. At places, the fibrofatty connective tissue extends from the skin down to the deep fascia in between the lobes. These bands are known as Suspensory ligaments of Cooper.

The Breasts Of Pregnant Lady:

Breast changes are evident in the lady who is giving birth to baby for the first time. They are characteristic for the first time breast milk production.

The size of breast increase even in early weeks. This is due to hypertrophy (increase in size) and proliferation (increase in numbers) of ducts and alveoli. Myoepithelial cells also become prominent. The blood vascular supply increases which results in appearance of bluish veins running under the skin.

Sometimes axillary tail becomes enlarged and painful. Occasionally there is lining over the skin of breasts due to stretching of skin.

Nipples become larger, erectile and deeply pigmented. Many sebaceous glands increase in size and become visible and these are called Montgomery's tubercles. Their secretion keeps the nipple and areola moist and healthy.

Secretion can be squeezed out of the breast at about 12th week which is at first sticky. Later on, by 16th week, it becomes thick and yellowish.

This anatomical description is required to understand the process of breast milk production and how breast milk production is affected by physical structure or body parts, by physiological and pathological processes.

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