The anatomy and physiology of breastfeeding

Milk secretion by the mammary glands is a physiological process governed solely by hormonal regulation; the size and shape of the breasts, therefore, have no bearing on the ability to produce milk.

Already during pregnancy, the mammary gland prepares for breastfeeding by developing the alveoli and milk ducts. After the delivery of the placenta, the level of pregnancy hormones drops sharply, while at the same time prolactin (the hormone that stimulates the mammary gland) rises.

The baby's suckling at the breast is essential for prolactin production, and it is advisable to breastfeed the baby as soon as possible after birth.

The composition of breast milk

The composition of breast milk changes significantly throughout the entire breastfeeding period, in response to various physiological factors, including the newborn's gestational age, the mother's age, the baby's demand for milk, and the regulation of milk quantity over the course of a feed.

Breast milk, moreover, varies enormously, not only from one mother to another, but also over the course of a single day and even within the same feed.

In the first two or three days after birth, the baby feeds on colostrum, the mother's first milk, which is exactly what the newborn needs as their first food: it is rich in antibodies and other nutrients that not only help protect the baby from bacteria and viruses, but also have a laxative effect, helping to expel the first stools, known as meconium. In the first days the baby takes in small but increasing amounts of it, until true breast milk production begins.

From day 4 or 5, the milk becomes transitional milk, so called because it has characteristics somewhere between colostrum and mature milk; its production (which begins around the 4th day after birth) starts with the milk coming in. It looks rich and creamy.

From day 20, mature milk production begins, a food able to fully meet the newborn's nutritional needs up to the 6th month of life. It contains components that give the newborn valuable support in defending against bacterial and viral infections, along with sugars, fats and vitamins in the optimal amounts to ensure the baby's growth.

Early «skin-to-skin» contact

At birth, being held close by the mother gives the newborn the same support once provided by the womb: physical, psychological and nutritive containment. Early contact fosters mutual recognition between mother and child: the baby is calmer, recognizes the mother's warmth, voice and smell, and the mother herself is stimulated in developing the maternal abilities that let her identify her newborn's needs. If left resting on the mother's belly, the newborn, guided by smell, will look at the nipple and then decide to latch onto the breast. This encourages the stimulation of oxytocin production and thus the start of the lactation process. After giving birth, the mother, however tired, longs to be in close contact with her baby. Both instinctively use their senses to build their bond outside the womb. It is the greatest reward after the effort of childbirth.

Benefits

  • Breast milk is easier to digest, as it also contains enzymes suited to breaking it down; indeed, breast milk curdles into small, easily digestible flakes, unlike cow's milk, which curdles into large flakes; breast milk also helps prevent constipation
  • Breastfeeding avoids the contamination and changes that formula can undergo from being heated and given in a container
  • Breast milk is inexpensive and convenient to offer; it is available at any moment, at the right temperature, without any special preparation; there is no need to sterilize anything or boil water, giving the mother greater freedom of movement
  • Breastfed babies are less exposed to illness and to digestive, skin and respiratory problems, and run a lower risk of obesity
  • Sucking at the nipple, which requires the use of more muscles, leads to better development of the face, dental arch and palate
  • Suckling at the breast stimulates oxytocin production and therefore uterine contractions, helping the uterus return to its normal size and reducing blood loss
  • Breastfeeding reduces the mother's risk of breast cancer
  • Various studies show that breastfed children have greater height and less body fat even in adulthood