The relationship between the hormone Prolactin and breast milk secretion

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
Prolactin hormone is a hormone that plays a major role in breast milk production and increases breast milk production. The level of prolactin in your body is high during pregnancy and right after the birth of your baby, but your body releases prolactin in response to stimulation in your breasts. If you don't breastfeed or don't pump breast milk, your prolactin levels will start to drop.

1. What is the hormone Prolactin?

Prolactin hormone (abbreviated as PRL), is a peptide hormone, encoded by the prolactin gene. In humans, the prolactin index exists as three peptides and some larger molecular weight peptides.
The prolactin index in women plays a role in stimulating the milk glands to produce milk, and also affects many other cellular functions. Prolactin hormone is secreted from the anterior pituitary in response to eating, mating, estrogen treatment, ovulation, and lactation to produce breast milk.

2. The relationship between the hormone Prolactin and the secretion of breast milk

After the mother gives birth to the baby, the placenta leaves the body, the estrogen and progesterone levels will start to drop. The reduction of these two hormones allows prolactin to stimulate the milk glands in the breast to make breast milk. During the first few days after a baby is born, prolactin dramatically increases milk production, which often causes engorgement as colostrum transitions into breast milk.
Breast milk secretion is maintained and controlled by Prolactin. This means that when the baby sucks on the breast, it stimulates the secretion of Prolactin. Prolactin enters the bloodstream to the mammary glands and stimulates the cells to secrete milk. Prolactin levels in the blood reach their maximum about 30 minutes after the baby feeds, helping to make milk for the next feed.
Through the mechanism of milk production as above, to have more milk, it is necessary to have a lot of Prolactin.

3. How to increase prolactin levels more

In the lactation mechanism, there is also a self-regulating milk secretion. When the milk follicles are full of milk but cannot be drained, the lactation cells will secrete less. Therefore, in order for the breasts to continue to make good milk, breast milk must be released from the breast.
The best way to increase prolactin hormone is to breastfeed more often or use a breast pump to pump milk out. Ideally, once your baby is born, you should breastfeed or pump for at least two to three hours a day. The more you stimulate milk, the more prolactin your brain will produce.
Nutrition of nursing mothers directly affects the mechanism of breast milk secretion. Mothers who eat well will have enough milk and good quality milk to breastfeed. Eat nutritious foods such as shrimp, crab, fish, eggs, milk, meat, green vegetables.... Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water/day because the body needs a lot of water for milk secretion.
Mother also needs to have a mode of rest and moderate work. If you have to work a lot without eating enough, the mother's body will have to use nutrients stored in the body's tissues to make milk and exercise, leading to malnutrition.
There are also certain herbs and medications that can help boost prolactin levels for the mother. However, mothers should use brands with reputable brands to ensure the health of mother and baby.
It is important not only that raising prolactin levels will result in a healthy breast milk supply, but also breast stimulation and the removal of breast milk from the breasts.
The best breast stimulation is frequent breastfeeding. In order to breastfeed regularly, mothers need to breastfeed properly with the right latch, if the mother cannot breastfeed properly, or the mother has flat nipples, inverted nipples, she should ask for the support of nurses. lactation counseling service for timely support.

4. Things that affect prolactin levels in lactation

Here are some factors that influence prolactin release while breastfeeding.
Miles of formula: If you give your baby extra formula or water between feeds, your body will not signal to release prolactin. Using a pacifier too early: Using a pacifier in the first days and weeks of breastfeeding will make your baby not want to latch on and stimulate your breast because a replacement is available. The more you breastfeed, the more prolactin your body produces. When a baby uses a pacifier, the mother loses the opportunity to increase prolactin and have a healthy breast milk supply. Birth control pills containing estrogen: Changes in the balance of estrogen and prolactin will affect the supply of breast milk. Birth control pills that contain estrogen cause a decrease in the mother's milk production. Breast surgery: Breast surgery performed near the areola or nipple can cause damage to the nerves that signal the brain to release prolactin. Numbing cream: Numbing cream should not be used to treat sore nipples. Not only can it numb the baby's mouth, but it can also numb the nerves in the breast. If the nerves cannot send signals to the brain, prolactin will not be released. Alcohol, coffee, tobacco: All these stimulants can lead to a decrease in prolactin levels in general and affect the health of mother and baby in particular. It is best for mothers to stay away from these stimulants so as not to harm both mother and baby. Depression: Prolactin levels are lower in mothers with depression. However, postpartum mothers often suffer from depression, so the mother should talk, confide and ask for help from family members more often.

Therefore, the prolactin index in the mother's body is high if the mother is breastfeeding, pumping milk regularly and eating and resting in moderation. If you breastfeed sparingly, don't pump breast milk, or do things that affect your prolactin levels, prolactin will start to drop. In the absence of exclusive breastfeeding, breast milk production will slow down and eventually disappear.
Specialist doctor I Truong Nghia Binh has over 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has high expertise and long experience in diagnosing and treating Obstetrics and Gynecology diseases such as: screening for diseases of mother and baby before birth chorionic villus biopsies, amniocentesis.. Ultrasound to screen for fetal malformations (3D, 4D ultrasound) Follow-up, birth control in cases of normal or difficult birth treatment of pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, pregnancy with complicated medical conditions... Cesarean section for 1st, 2nd, 3rd time caesarean section... Examination, treatment treatment of gynecological diseases. Examination and consultation of infertile couples

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