Initiating Milk Supply: Infographic

Nature has provided female mammals the ability to provide nutrition to their young after giving birth. This amazing natural marvel occurs due to a sequence of physiologic events, and culminates with sufficient quantities of species-specific nutrition for infant survival, growth, and development.

The process of lactation begins during gestation and is referred to as Secretory Differentiation.  The hormonal influences that maintain pregnancy play a role in producing biochemical and physical changes within the breast in preparation for lactation. Breast size increases along with an increase in milk-making cells (or lactocytes) and ductal structures within the breast resulting in an increase in milk production capability.

After birth, a change in important hormones stimulates the lactocytes to initiate copious milk production. This process, known as Secretory Activation or ‘milk coming in’ is enhanced with early initiation and subsequently frequent infant breastfeeding.

In the absence of a healthy, breastfeeding infant, breast stimulation with research-based initiation technology should be employed to support long-term milk supply.

The following infographic illustrates the steps in this natural process.

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