Breast Milk Production Peaks, When Do They Occur?
Breast milk production peaks are of great benefit to a newborn. When do they occur? Today we will tell you how certain hormones affect this process. In addition, you will discover why, as moms, you play a vital role in your baby’s healthy nutrition.
Prolactin: responsible for the production of breast milk
Prolactin is the hormone in charge of stimulating the mammary glands to produce breast milk. Consequently, it increases its activity progressively from the first trimester of pregnancy.
Despite this, prolactin does not produce milk right away, as the levels of progesterone and estrogen that the placenta produces inhibit its action.
When it is expelled from the placenta, prolactin begins to produce milk, which remains at high levels for months after delivery. In addition to this, the amount of milk is determined by how often the baby is fed.
If you do this right away, your milk levels will rise. On the contrary, if the little one takes little, the quantity that the mother has at her disposal decreases.
When do breast milk production peaks occur?
Prolactin levels multiply between 10 and 20 with each feeding of the newborn. This allows for peaks in breast milk production to occur.
These reach their maximum level while the baby takes milk at night, 20-40 minutes after the stimulus has started. This milk boost can last for 3-4 hours.
Furthermore, the hours in which production peaks are reached are between 2 and 6 in the morning. For this reason, it is recommended that you breastfeed your baby during the night, as long as he is hungry.
How does oxytocin affect breast milk?
Oxytocin is a hormone that exerts its function during childbirth and breastfeeding. This allows the milk to flow spontaneously as soon as the baby sucks.
Many mothers can feel the action of this hormone, as it causes a kind of tingling and tingling in the chest. It is a sensation that is perceived when milk comes out, or even when simple drops come out.
Mother’s thoughts can stimulate oxytocin. Therefore, these play a key role in triggering the leaking of milk; in fact, production is activated only with the intention of breastfeeding or listening to the baby’s cry.
Why breastfeed your baby at night?
It is advisable to breastfeed the baby at night because it is at this time that the production of breast milk is stimulated; in addition, it allows him to gain weight.
On the other hand, it has been proven that when babies are breastfed, they sleep more at night. The reason is that prolactin also has a relaxing effect on the mother and child.
Another reason is that it reduces the risk of infections for the mother and also avoids blockages in the breast due to the accumulation of milk, a very common problem when the baby is not breastfed often.
Should the amount of breast milk be increased?
In most cases this is not necessary, as every woman is naturally prepared to produce milk. Also, as long as breast stimulation continues through the baby’s sucking, there will be enough liquid.
However, in some extreme circumstances the mother must be helped to produce milk. Which ones are they? For example, if the baby has lost a lot of weight or was born prematurely, he or she needs a quick milk boost. Another factor is the forced separation of the mother from the child for hospital reasons.
In these cases, the doctor may prescribe galactogogenic drugs. The most used is Domperidone.
Another solution is milk pumping. This practice consists in sucking the liquid for 5 minutes in both breasts. To do this, a breast pump is used every hour during the day; at night there is a break of 4 hours. This operation also activates prolactin.
Ultimately, breast milk production peaks help your baby meet milk demand for healthy, rapid growth. Without a doubt, this is something that all mothers should consider.
