How Breast Milk Is Produced?

Breast Milk Production

Milk is produced in small sac-like glands in the chest. These bags develop after specific hormones (such as estrogen, progesterone, prolactin and pituitary placental lactogen) stimulate them, beginning in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The human breast does not store a large quantity of milk, as cows do. Suckling stimulates the release of a hormone called prolactin, which stimulates milk production and the release of another hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin stimulates contraction (or "let-down reflex") of the mammary glands. Milk is ejected from the milk glands in the milk ducts, and nipple.

In early lactation, the milk is bluish and contains lactose and proteins, but little fat. This milk is called transitional milk. The end of the feed product hindmilk. The hindmilk contains more fat, the main source of energy for your baby. If breast milk is allowed to sit for half an hour after being expressed that the "cream" separates and settles on top of the wet. This is because breast milk is not homogenized, the process that is part of the water and fat in milk are mixed.