Breast Milk And How It Is Made
- Date: 2008-09-20 - Word Count: 435
Share This!
If you've every been pregnant or if you are pregnant now, you've probably noticed a metamorphisis in your bra cups. The physical changes (tender, swollen breasts) may be one of the earliest clues that you have conceived. Many experts believe that the color change in the areola may also be helpful when it comes to breast feeding.
What's going on
Perhaps what's even more remarkable than visible changes is the extensive changes that are taking place inside of your breasts. The developing placenta stimulates the release of estrogen and progesterone, which will in turn stimulate the complex biological system that helps to make lactation possible.
Before you get pregnant, a combination of supportive tissue, milk glands, and fat make up the larger portions of your breats. The fact is, your newly swollen breasts have been preparing for your pregnancy since you were in your mother's womb! When you were born, your main milk ducts had already formed. Your mammary glands stayed quiet until you reached puberty, when a flood of the female hormone estrogen caused them to grow and also to swell. During pregnancy, those glands will kick into high gear.
Before your baby arrives, glandular tissue has replaced a majority of the fat cells and accounts for your bigger than before breasts. Each breast may actually get as much as 1 1/2 pounds heavier than before!
Nestled among the fatty cells and glandular tissue is an intricate network of channels or canals known as the milk ducts. The pregnancy hormones will cause these ducts to increase in both number and size, with the ducts branching off into smaller canals near the chest wall known as ductules. At the end of each duct is a cluster of smaller sacs known as alveoli. The cluster of alveoli is known as a lobule, while a cluster of lobule is known as a lobe. Each breast will contain around 15 - 20 lobes, with one milk duct for every lobe. The milk is produced inside of the alveoli, which is surrounded by tiny muscles that squeeze the glands and help to push the milk out into the ductules. Those ductules will lead to a bigger duct that widens into a milk pool directly below the areola.
The milk pools will act as resevoirs that hold the milk until your baby sucks it through the tiny openings in your nipples.
Mother Nature is so smart that your milk duct system will become fully developed around the time of your second trimester, so you can properly breast feed your baby even if he or she arrives earlier than you are anticipating.
What's going on
Perhaps what's even more remarkable than visible changes is the extensive changes that are taking place inside of your breasts. The developing placenta stimulates the release of estrogen and progesterone, which will in turn stimulate the complex biological system that helps to make lactation possible.
Before you get pregnant, a combination of supportive tissue, milk glands, and fat make up the larger portions of your breats. The fact is, your newly swollen breasts have been preparing for your pregnancy since you were in your mother's womb! When you were born, your main milk ducts had already formed. Your mammary glands stayed quiet until you reached puberty, when a flood of the female hormone estrogen caused them to grow and also to swell. During pregnancy, those glands will kick into high gear.
Before your baby arrives, glandular tissue has replaced a majority of the fat cells and accounts for your bigger than before breasts. Each breast may actually get as much as 1 1/2 pounds heavier than before!
Nestled among the fatty cells and glandular tissue is an intricate network of channels or canals known as the milk ducts. The pregnancy hormones will cause these ducts to increase in both number and size, with the ducts branching off into smaller canals near the chest wall known as ductules. At the end of each duct is a cluster of smaller sacs known as alveoli. The cluster of alveoli is known as a lobule, while a cluster of lobule is known as a lobe. Each breast will contain around 15 - 20 lobes, with one milk duct for every lobe. The milk is produced inside of the alveoli, which is surrounded by tiny muscles that squeeze the glands and help to push the milk out into the ductules. Those ductules will lead to a bigger duct that widens into a milk pool directly below the areola.
The milk pools will act as resevoirs that hold the milk until your baby sucks it through the tiny openings in your nipples.
Mother Nature is so smart that your milk duct system will become fully developed around the time of your second trimester, so you can properly breast feed your baby even if he or she arrives earlier than you are anticipating.
Related Tags: health, cancer, breast cancer, signs of breast cancer, breast cancer signs, breast cancer stages, what is breast cancer, causes of breast cancer, breast cancer statistics, breast cancer in men, breast cancer prognosis, breast cancer survival rates, stages of breast cancer, breast cancer month, stage 3 breast cancer, breast cancer survival rate, breast cancer types, breast cancer causes
For tips on breast cancer statistics and signs of breast cancer, visit the Breast Cancer Prognosis website. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Some Standard Breast Cancer Medical Treatments
Breast cancer treatment methods keeps evolving everyday. Each and every new innovation regarding bre - Changes In The Works For Cancer-compensation Program?
Ground-breaking legislation was recently introduced in the Senate by Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and J - One Of The Best Ways To Quit Smoking Tobacco Cigarettes
There are many methods to quit smoking but only a few work. The patch may work for a while but soone - Tested Way To Forever Quit Smoking Those Terrible Cigarettes
There are many methods to quit smoking but only a few work. The patch may work for a while but soone - Breast Cancer Screening Questioned
The effectiveness of breast cancer screening has been questioned after a recent US report revealed h - Breast Cancer Stages: Importance Of Knowing Breast Cancer Stages
Determining the breast cancer stages is important since it enables the patient and doctor to identif - Breast Cancer Risk: Estimate Your Chances Of Breast Cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women. However, men can also become prey to - You Will Be Grateful About These How To Survive Breast Cancer Tips
Flattening or indentation of the skin over your breast can be a sign of breast cancer. If it is, you - Knowing About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases that affect women of all ages, all over the world. - The Only Proven Cancer Cure - Says The Thousands Of People Cured By It
The best Cancer prostate treatment or best general cancer treatment in my opinion and in the opinion
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is a special kind of advanced breast cancer and it's a serious one. Thou - Some Common Myths About Breast Cancer
Myth: People who are at high risk of breast cancer cannot do anything about it.This is not true. Th - Breast Cancer - Myths
Myth: An individual will probably get breast cancer if her mother or grandmother had it.If an indivi - Breast Cancer Risks and Prevention Tips
One risk factor for breast cancer is hormone stimulation. One way to stimulate hormones is hormone - Breast Cancer And The Pain Of The Mammogram
Just tune into a select cable channel and keep watching long enough and you're likely to see a pred - Green Tea or Black for Preventing Breast Cancer?
In recent years there has been an abundance of research investigating the benefits of green and blac - Mammogram Overkill
I have to wonder just how many women get unnecessary mammograms? I've had some scares already in my - Breast Cancer: The Risk Factors
Breast cancer is very hard to detect in its early stages. Breast self-exams and regular clinical br - Breast Cancer - You and Your Medical Team
We all know that doctors are busy, pulled in many directions and pressed for time. As a breast canc - Breast Cancer - Myths And Facts
Myth: Breast cancer is primarily a genetic disorder.Only 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer is