Are you ready to breastfeed your baby? Let's learn everything about lactation.

If you are a pregnant mother, or a mother who has just given birth to a baby, one of the greatest joys you can experience is breastfeeding your own child. Whether you decide to breastfeed or formula feed your baby, your body will naturally start producing milk for you in most cases. But how does this process of producing breast milk, or lactation, actually happen? It is a very amazing and miraculous thing. Let's talk about it today.

Simply put, what is lactation?

Lactation is simply the process of producing milk for your little one from the mammary glands in your breasts. Almost all mammals do this. This process usually starts when you are pregnant. And it continues until you stop breastfeeding.

Although milk is usually produced during pregnancy and after childbirth, there are times when it is possible to induce lactation without being pregnant. Let's take a look at how this happens.

How does our body produce milk? (Lactogenesis)

This whole process starts with hormones . To be precise, the process of milk production with these hormonal changes is called lactogenesis. There are three main stages in this. Let's look at the table below to understand these three stages clearly.

Can you breastfeed without being pregnant?

Yes, with the advancement of medical science, it is possible to stimulate milk production without pregnancy. But that also requires the same hormones mentioned earlier. If something like this needs to be done, a doctor will give you drugs that are similar to the hormones produced during pregnancy and after childbirth.

What things can affect breastfeeding?

There are several factors that can affect your milk production, so it's important to be aware of these as well.

• Nutritional deficiencies : If you don't eat a nutritious diet, it can affect milk production.
• Some types of drugs:Some medications, especially those that affect dopamine, can reduce milk production. So if you're taking any medications, it's important to tell your doctor about them.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Other hormonal problems in the body can also interfere with milk production.
• Injuries or surgeries to the breasts: Breast augmentation /reduction surgeries can damage the milk ducts.
• Radiation Therapy: If you have received radiation therapy for conditions such as cancer, it can also be affected.
• Some medical conditions.
• Drug and alcohol use .

Possible problems and side effects of breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, your body undergoes major hormonal changes. This can cause some physical and mental discomfort. It is very important to be aware of this in advance.

Breast engorgement

As mentioned earlier, in the early days of lactation, your breasts may feel full, swollen, and painful. This can also happen when your routine changes, for example, when you start feeding your baby solid foods or when you go back to work, and if you are unable to breastfeed on time. The best way to deal with this is to pump some milk at that time if you are unable to breastfeed. If you are experiencing engorgement and pain, you may find relief by soaking your breasts in warm water before feeding .

Nipple infection (Mastitis)

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue. It is common among breastfeeding mothers . It can cause pain, swelling, redness, and fever .

If a blocked milk duct causes mastitis, the best solution is to continue breastfeeding or pumping on that side. This will help the blocked milk drain. However, if it is caused by a bacterial infection, you will need to take antibiotics. If you have symptoms similar to mastitis, don't panic and see your doctor right away.

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)

This may be a bit of a let-down. D-MER is a sudden, negative feeling of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness that occurs during a moment of let-down. It only lasts a few seconds.

This is not postpartum depression. It is hormonal. Simply put, oxytocin and prolactin are needed to let down milk. For prolactin to increase, the neurotransmitter dopamine, which brings us pleasure, needs to decrease. Sometimes, this dopamine level drops too low. That's when these difficult feelings come to mind. If you have experienced something like this, it is very important to talk to your doctor about it.