Hormones involved in lactation are 1) estrogen 2)progesterone 3) prolactin 3) oxytocin

2. LACTATION
 It is the process of milk production that occurs in the
mammary glands present in the breast
 Alveoli of the mammary glands will produce milk, that
is secreted into the mammary ducts which open at the
nipple
 The ability of the mammary glands to secret milk
during later pregnancy is called lactogenesis
 The process of lactation is controlled by various
hormones

3. LACTOGENIC HORMONES
 Hormones which stimulate growth of mammary
glands and lactation after parturition.
 From the 24th week of pregnancy, the women's
body produces hormones that stimulate the
growth of the milk duct system in the breast.
 There are 4 major hormones that help your
breast make milk 1) estrogen
2) progesterone
3) prolactin
4) oxytocin

4. 1. ESTROGEN
 Breast growth hormone estrogen and human
placental lactogen work on the growth of the
breast before pregnancy.
 All through the pregnancy, large quantities of
estrogen secreted by the placenta and ovary cause
the ductal system of breast to grow and branch.
 High level of estrogen inhibit lactation
 Estrogen levels also drop at delivery and remain
low for first several months of breast feeding

5. PROGESTERONE
 The final development of breast into milk secreting
organs requires progesterone
 It is secreted by ovary and placenta
 Once the ductal system has developed, progesterone
causes additional growth of the breast lobules
 Increased level of progesterone inhibit lactation
before birth

6. ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE
Estrogen and progesterone prepare your breast to
make milk
When placenta is discharged after birth, levels of
estrogen and progesterone decreases.
This decrease signals your body and triggers the
onset of copious milk production
Secretion of milk requires an adequate background
secretion of most of mothers other hormone like
growth hormone, cortisol insulin, PTH
These are necessary to provide amino acids, fatty
acids glucose, and calcium

7. PROLACTIN
 Prolactin is protein of 198 amino acids is released
from the anterior pituitary gland in the brain
 Its known as breast feeding hormone because of its
role in production of breast milk
 During pregnancy, prolactin prepares your breasts to
begin breast milk production
 High levels of estrogen and progesterone prevent
prolactin from making breast milk
 When baby breastfeeds, the nerves in your breast
sends signals to your brain to release hormones
prolactin which leads to milk production

8. PROLACTIN
•Level of prolactin is higher at night
•Prolactin levels are higher until two months of postpartum
•Prolactin levels increases if more milk is removed from the
breast
•Women who smoke have low prolactin levels
•Stress and prolactin increase prolactin levels
Prolactin normal range in serum in pregnant women is 34-
386ng/mL

9. OXYTOCIN- LET DOWN REFLEX
 A type of neurosecretory cells in the posterior
pituitary gets stimulated by suckling and would
release oxytocin.
 When the baby suckles, it receives virtually no milk
for first half minute
 Sensory impulses must first be transmitted through
somatic nerves from the nipples to the mothers
spinal cord and then to hypothalamus, cause nerve
signals to promote oxytocin
 It is carried in the blood to the breast where it causes
myoepithelial cells to contract, thereby expressing
the milk from the alveoli into the ducts.

10. BENEFITS OF BREAST FEEDING ON MATERNAL HEALTH
 BONDING
1. Skin to skin contact of mother and baby stimulates
breast feeding behavior in baby
2. WHO- skin to skin contact between mother and
newborn reduces crying, improves mother to infant
interactions and keeps baby warm
 HORMONE RELEASE
1. Oxytocin and prolactin relax the mother and make
her feel more nurturing towards her baby
2. Enables sleep if the mother has difficulty in sleeping
 WEIGHT LOSS
1. Extended breastfeeding at least 6 months can help
mother lose weight

11. • LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECTS
1. Less risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and
endometrial cancer
2. Lactation for at least 24 months is associated with
23% lower risk of coronary heart disease
3. Mothers who breastfeed longer than eight months
benefit from bone re-mineralization
4. Breastfeeding diabetic mother require less insulin
5. Reduced risk of postpartum bleeding
6. Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis