What Should You Know about Your Breast?
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Breast Facts #1
It is essential to realize that during the process of not only pregnancy but for preparation for breast feeding, your breasts undergo a change. It is essential you understand the alterations. This will help you prepare for the process of breast feeding. It will make it much easier to go with the flow – of milk.
During your pregnancy, your breasts begin to alter to reflect their upcoming purpose. During the first trimester, the breasts become tender. This is particularly true of the nipples. During the second trimester, the nipples become larger as does the areola. The pigmentation around the nipples is a darkening.
Breast Facts #2
The breasts do become larger. They are moving towards the time when they will engorge with milk. This begins to take place a few days after the birth of your child. You can easily recognize primary engorgement (Do not confuse with problem engorgment which is a common trouble associated with breast feeding.). Your breasts will be painful to touch. They will feel hard. They may also become quite hot to the touch. They may be sore for from 24 to 36 hours during this initial period.
Breast Facts #3
The milk making process of your breasts is the result of the release of prolactin. From the first 12 months of conception onwards, it helps to increase breast size and helps you to produce a small amount of another essential ingredient – colostrum. Fortunately, the high levels of progesterone in your blood system ensure the milk production in your breasts remains minuscule until the arrival or your infant.
Breast Facts #4
After the delivery of your child and the expelling of the placenta, your body seriously settles down to produce milk for your baby. Yet, before you can provide your body with mother’s milk, your body initiates the first baby food – colostrum. Colostrum is the quintessential baby formula. It is a thick substance. It can be yellow, orange or clear in color. It appears after birth and remains the main nourishment until your breast begin to produce milk some 48 hours or more after birth. For the first 2 to 3 days, however, your baby will rely on colostrum for all its needs.
Breast Facts #5
Colostrum is a truly incredible substance. It serves several purposes at once. First, it is a complete nutrient package for your infant. It contains all the basic nutrients. Colostrum is higher in protein and lower in fat and carbohydrates than your mature milk. As a result, your baby requires very little to survive during these early days of breast feeding. Second, it is an immune inducing meal. Colostrum helps your baby maintain its defense against bacteria and other possible problems. This is because it is high in whey proteins (antibodies). Third, colostrum coats the baby’s stomach. In doing so it prevents the occurrence of bacterial infections. It helps pave the way for the baby’s stomach to handle the upcoming mature milk. Finally, colostrum acts as a laxative. It stimulates the newborn’s bodily excretion processes.
Breast Facts #6
Yet, both the release of colostrum and mature milk rely on one motion to maintain it – the sucking or latching of your baby on your breast. Once your baby begins to suck, several physical interrelated things occur. The initial sucking stimulates numerous nerves beneath the areola. These send a message conducted by the hormone prolactin to the brain. The brain, in turn, activates the release of both prolactin and oxytocin into the blood stream. They flow straight to the breast. Of these 2 hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, it is oxytocin who helps release the milk.
Breast Facts #7
Oxytocin is responsible for the ejection or let-down reflex of the minuscule milk sacs. The sacs are the production mechanism of the milk. Oxytocin releases the milk, sending it into the sinuses of the breast. The sinuses reside just beneath the breast’s areola. The first milk the baby initiates when the baby latches is the fore milk. As the milk drains, the hind milk flows. This mature milk is higher in lactose, fat and casein proteins than colostrum. At this point of your baby’s development, your breast milk is the ideal food for your baby.
Breast Facts #8
The process of making and releasing milk is a continuous one – a never ending loop, as long as the infant continues to suck. It is the sucking motion that re-triggers the oxytocin. In other words, the latching continually stimulates the oxytocin to continually produce milk. As long as you allow the baby to suck regularly and frequently, you will have the oxytocin acting to provide your breasts with a sufficient supply of milk for your infant. The secret, therefore, to a well-fed baby lies in ensuring the oxytocin receives continual stimulation. You may also want to note that the stimulation of the breast is also responsible for the release of endorphins. These do not stimulate the baby but do induce in mothers a happy or contented feeling while they breast feed.
Breast Facts #9
One issue for breast feeding moms is breast size. Size does not matter in how apt or capable you are at feeding your baby. Although breasts do grow in size when you are pregnant, larger does not mean better. Large or small, they are more than able to produce milk for your newborn. What matters more than size of breasts is the shape and performance of the nipple.
Breast Facts #10
Nipples come in all types. If you stimulate them, they will perk up and reveal their true nature or shape. Most breast nipples, when pinched will “pop” out. The nipple will become erect. This is a desirable quality for breast feeding. Other nipples may create problems. In order to determine whether your nipple may require more attention than others, grasp it in your hand and pinch it. The average breast will produce a protruded nipple. Even if you have flat nipples, a pinch may push them outwards. The same applies to the treatment of dimpled, folded or inverted nipples. Even in inverted nipples you can coax the nipple outwards. This creates a nipple for latching.
Breast Facts #11
If your nipples are flat, dimpled or inverted and do not pop out when you pinch, this is a cause for concern. If the nipple flattens or inverts further, you should talk to a doctor about correcting the problem. If the nipple extends out only slightly, you may also have to consider talking to your doctor or professional. A baby need to latch if she or he is to successfully feed and thrive on breast milk.
Breast Facts #12
Breast changes also continue throughout breast feeding. The nipples may stretch. The size may seem to vary. What does this all mean when you decide to stop breast feeding your child? Normally, there is little to concern yourself about. The breasts may remain larger for a while. You may even be able to express milk for several weeks or even months. By the end of 6 months after weaning, your breasts may seem somewhat smaller if firmer than before your pregnancy. At the end of a year the build-up of fat will help you to regain an approximation of their previous shape and size.
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