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Milky Adventure
The physiological foundations of breastfeeding
In episode 1, Lauriane Emond, IBCLC lactation consultant, explains what happens in the body during and after pregnancy to enable breastfeeding.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Lauriane Emond, a pediatric nurse and certified IBCLC lactation consultant, explains what happens in the body during and after pregnancy to enable breastfeeding. You will discover the hormones involved, how to observe the signs that indicate proper mammary gland development, and what you can do during pregnancy to approach breastfeeding with confidence.
- Pregnancy and Lactation Hormones
- The Key Role of Prolactin and Oxytocin
- How to Observe Signs of a Functional Mammary Gland
- What You Can Do During Pregnancy to Prepare
- Why Understanding Physiology Helps You Feel More Confident
💡 Key figures
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life, followed by continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age, alongside complementary feeding. As breast milk is the milk of our species, it constantly adapts to the baby's age, growth, and health status.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO).
Pregnancy and Lactation Hormones
It all starts with pregnancy. During this period, estrogen and progesterone are released into the body to develop the mammary gland. These hormones temporarily inhibit lactation hormones.
At birth, the placenta is expelled. Placental hormones (estrogen and progesterone) then drop drastically, making way for prolactin, the main lactation hormone.
But prolactin doesn't work alone. Oxytocin, the second key breastfeeding hormone, plays an equally essential role. It's the hormone of love, relaxation, and mother-child bonding. While prolactin acts on milk production in the alveoli, oxytocin acts on milk ejection towards the baby. This is why anything that disturbs the mother's serenity can hinder oxytocin, and thus milk transfer.
Observing Signs During Pregnancy
Two main signs can indicate proper mammary gland development during pregnancy: an increase in breast size and the rounded contour of the chest. The initial breast volume doesn't matter: it's this rounded shape that indicates the presence of a mammary gland.
Lauriane uses a vivid image: the mammary gland resembles a broccoli. The alveoli are like the florets of the broccoli, and the stem represents the ducts leading to the nipple. If this broccoli grows during pregnancy, it's a good sign.
If this isn't the case, or if the breasts are rather tubular (straight and pointed downwards rather than rounded), it's not a lost cause. It's simply a lightbulb moment: an opportunity to seek prenatal support to delve deeper into the topic.
Preparing During Pregnancy
It's not necessary to "prepare the breasts" by stimulating the nipples. What truly matters is learning about the physiology of lactation to avoid surprises, and becoming familiar with your body. In the last month of pregnancy, you can start practicing hand expression, provided you don't stimulate too much or too frequently to avoid triggering contractions.
The most important message
The more a mother understands the physiology of lactation beforehand, the more at ease she will be. Many factors (hospitalization, mother-baby separation, C-section) are external to what is actually happening in her body. Knowing what is happening allows her to reclaim her journey and move forward with confidence.
🔎 Useful definitions
Prolactin : the main lactation hormone. Released after the drop in placental hormones at birth, it stimulates milk production in the alveoli of the mammary gland.
___
Oxytocin : the hormone of love and relaxation, essential for mother-child bonding. In breastfeeding, it triggers milk ejection from the alveoli to the baby. It is sensitive to stress and environment.
___
IBCLC : International certification for lactation consultants. It requires over 200 hours of theoretical training and over 1000 hours of practical breastfeeding experience, and must be renewed every 5 years.
🎯 Practical actions
- Observe yourself during pregnancy and notice the changes
- Look for two key signs:
- an increase in breast size AND
- the rounded contour of the breasts, regardless of their initial size
- Learn about the physiology of lactation in general
- Understanding how it works before childbirth allows you to approach breastfeeding much more calmly and avoid surprises.
- Familiarize yourself with your body:
- During the last month of pregnancy, you can start observing your body
- Begin gentle hand expression practice,
- If in doubt, and in the following cases, consider a prenatal consultation:
- Tubular breasts,
- Absence of breast augmentation,
- Previous breast surgery,
- Hormonal treatment
- Prenatal support helps establish an action plan tailored to your project.
- Choose a trained professional
- For optimal support, choose an IBCLC certified consultant, ensuring thorough training and up-to-date recommendations.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
_____
⭐ The Milky Adventure series is made possible thanks to the participation of Fizimed, a French company that develops innovative solutions for women's health, such as their Emy Pump portable breast pump.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Lauriane Emond, a pediatric nurse and certified IBCLC lactation consultant, explains what happens in the body during and after pregnancy to enable breastfeeding. You will discover the hormones involved, how to observe the signs that indicate proper mammary gland development, and what you can do during pregnancy to approach breastfeeding with confidence.
- Pregnancy and Lactation Hormones
- The Key Role of Prolactin and Oxytocin
- How to Observe Signs of a Functional Mammary Gland
- What You Can Do During Pregnancy to Prepare
- Why Understanding Physiology Helps You Feel More Confident
💡 Key figures
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life, followed by continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age, alongside complementary feeding. As breast milk is the milk of our species, it constantly adapts to the baby's age, growth, and health status.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO).
Pregnancy and Lactation Hormones
It all starts with pregnancy. During this period, estrogen and progesterone are released into the body to develop the mammary gland. These hormones temporarily inhibit lactation hormones.
At birth, the placenta is expelled. Placental hormones (estrogen and progesterone) then drop drastically, making way for prolactin, the main lactation hormone.
But prolactin doesn't work alone. Oxytocin, the second key breastfeeding hormone, plays an equally essential role. It's the hormone of love, relaxation, and mother-child bonding. While prolactin acts on milk production in the alveoli, oxytocin acts on milk ejection towards the baby. This is why anything that disturbs the mother's serenity can hinder oxytocin, and thus milk transfer.
Observing Signs During Pregnancy
Two main signs can indicate proper mammary gland development during pregnancy: an increase in breast size and the rounded contour of the chest. The initial breast volume doesn't matter: it's this rounded shape that indicates the presence of a mammary gland.
Lauriane uses a vivid image: the mammary gland resembles a broccoli. The alveoli are like the florets of the broccoli, and the stem represents the ducts leading to the nipple. If this broccoli grows during pregnancy, it's a good sign.
If this isn't the case, or if the breasts are rather tubular (straight and pointed downwards rather than rounded), it's not a lost cause. It's simply a lightbulb moment: an opportunity to seek prenatal support to delve deeper into the topic.
Preparing During Pregnancy
It's not necessary to "prepare the breasts" by stimulating the nipples. What truly matters is learning about the physiology of lactation to avoid surprises, and becoming familiar with your body. In the last month of pregnancy, you can start practicing hand expression, provided you don't stimulate too much or too frequently to avoid triggering contractions.
The most important message
The more a mother understands the physiology of lactation beforehand, the more at ease she will be. Many factors (hospitalization, mother-baby separation, C-section) are external to what is actually happening in her body. Knowing what is happening allows her to reclaim her journey and move forward with confidence.
🎯 Concrete actions
- Observe yourself during pregnancy and notice the changes
- Look for two key signs:
- an increase in breast size AND
- the rounded contour of the breasts, regardless of their initial size
- Learn about the physiology of lactation in general
- Understanding how it works before childbirth allows you to approach breastfeeding much more calmly and avoid surprises.
- Familiarize yourself with your body:
- During the last month of pregnancy, you can start observing your body
- Begin gentle hand expression practice,
- If in doubt, and in the following cases, consider a prenatal consultation:
- Tubular breasts,
- Absence of breast augmentation,
- Previous breast surgery,
- Hormonal treatment
- Prenatal support helps establish an action plan tailored to your project.
- Choose a trained professional
- For optimal support, choose an IBCLC certified consultant, ensuring thorough training and up-to-date recommendations.
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