Breast is Best Essays - Breastfeeding, Anatomy, Health,

Breast is Best Milk Production I n order to produce milk, hormones are needed. The two main hormones are prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin is produced by the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) and released into the circulation. The regulation of prolactin levels in the plasma is controlled by the dopaminergic system. Prolactin acts on the human breast to produce milk. This occurs by binding to mammary epithelial cell receptors, which stimulates synthesis of mRNA of milk pro teins . It takes several minutes of the infant sucking at the breast to cause prolactin secretion. Prolactin is also important in inhibiting ovulation. Oxytocin is produced by the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary). Suckling at the breast stimulates the neurohypophysis to produce and release oxytocin in an intermittent manner. Oxytocin acts on the breast to produce milk ejection or "milk let down." Oxytocin also causes uterine contractions. Opiates and B endorphins released during stress can block the release of oxy tocin . Newton showed that women who received a saline injection and were distracted during breastfeeding produced less milk than women who were not distracted or women who received an injection of Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) prior to d istraction and breastfeeding . Lack of release of oxytocin inhibits the "milk let down" and the milk cannot be removed fro m the breast . Other hormones necessary for the production of breast milk include: insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone-related protein, and human growth hormone. A recently described hormone, Fil (feedback inhibitor of lactation), seems to play an important role in regulation of milk supply. Fil acts locally within each breast. Fil is secreted into breast milk. When the breast is not emptied, Fil remains in contact with the alveolar cells. Fil appears to act on an apical receptor on the alveolar cell. This inhibits secretion of milk constituents. The complete mechanism is not yet understood, however this appears to be the mechanism of decreased milk production due to not emptying the breast. The advantages and disadvantages for breastfeeding : Advantages Readily available Affordable The baby acquires natural passive immunity because breast milk contains the mother's antibodies and other anti-infectious agents. Breastfeeding prevents menustration , which could be a method of natural birth control; however it is not fail safe. Helps the woman return to her pre-pregnancy weight, because lactation uses a lot of energy. It may reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It is thought to reduce rates of obesity, therefore it reduces the risk of Type-2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. There is evidence that those who have been breastfeed achieve better in intelligence tests Disadvantages Risk of transmission of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C from baby to mother. May not be economically viable because some women have to return to work, so they cannot breastfeed their child exclusively. Sometimes breastfeeding can become uncomfortable, with some mothers suffering from nipple pain. Breastfeeding in public is still taboo; so feeding "on demand" may not be socially acceptable. If a mother does not replenish the quantity of calcium phosphate in the milk, the body responds by enlarging the parathyroid glands which causes her bones to decalcify, making her more susceptible to fractures. WHO re commendations for breastfeeding Breastfeeding should begin within an hour after birth. Breastfeeding should be "on demand", day and night. Bottles or dummies should be avoided. Exclusive breastfeeding (only breast milk given-not even water consumed) should occur until the baby is 6 months. After 6 months complementary breastfeeding (breast milk and other foods) should occur until the age of 2. New mothers should have at least 16 weeks off work after birth, so that she can rest and breastfeed her baby. Alternatives to breast feeding : Infant formula Infant formula is not recommended because it does not contain antibodies; it can increase the risk of water-borne disease in areas that have unsafe water; can lead to malnutrition; is not always readily available and can be expensive. Breast pumps Used when: the mother is lactating too much; breastfeeding becomes uncomfortable; the mother is busy or if the mother will not be there to feed her baby. Donor milk banking (more common in United States and Canada) Normally used in circumstances when the