Physiology of lactation
Immediately after the birth of a child, his digestive system is focused exclusively on feeding on mother's milk. If we summarize the anatomical and physiological features of the processes of digestion and absorption of food products of a newborn, it should be noted that the possibilities of cavity digestion are significantly limited, but at the same time they provide optimal conditions for autolytic digestion due to enzymes contained in breast milk. At the same time, the role of parietal digestion is exceptionally great.
In this regard, it is natural that immediately after birth the only optimal type of nutrition is breast milk. Any other type of feeding, even with optimal, adapted mixtures, is a “tragedy” for the child and already initially disrupts the course of its development. For the implementation of natural feeding, which ensures the optimal course of the development of the child, full-fledged lactation of the mother is necessary.
Lactation is the production of milk by the mammary gland of a woman, which is necessary for feeding a child. Lactation is a sequential process and has the following phases:
mammogenesis - the process of laying, postnatal growth and development of the mammary glands;
lactogenesis - the occurrence of milk secretion after childbirth;
lactopoiesis - the development and maintenance of the process of milk secretion.
The mammary glands in the postnatal period in girls develop due to the growth and proliferation of the milk duct system and the slight development of the alveoli. In women, some growth of the alveoli is observed during the menstrual cycle. With the onset of pregnancy, further development of the system of milk passages and a significant development of the parenchyma (alveoli) occur. Cellular hyperplasia continues after pregnancy, in the early period of lactation.
