Breastfeeding - Myths & Facts Decoded

The prolactin receptors within the breast stimulate the production of milk. The more frequent the removal of milk, the more active these receptors will be. This will result in more frequent production of milk and is thus the most important and primary factor that determines the mother s ability to produce milk.

The baby may become hungry and feed constantly during certain periods which are also known as growth spurts. These are periods where the baby may face rapid growth. These usually occur during the first week after birth, then in the third week, again in the third month and the sixth month. These spurts may last a couple of days and even upto a week. After the end of the spurt, the milk production will return back to normal as your baby resumes a normal feeding pattern.

Breasts are a sensitive area and have millions of nerve endings within them. It is thus normal to feel sexual arousal while trying to breast feed a baby and many women have even reported getting orgasms while breastfeeding. Due to the guilt associated with this, many women are embarrassed to talk about it. However you should look at it as a normal bodily function and thus not feel guilty or embarrassed about it.

The production of breast milk is connected to the number of milk making cells within the breast and has nothing to do with the shape or the physical size of the breast. These cells start growing during pregnancy and are at full swing in the first few weeks after birth. Once you start weaning the baby, the production of the cells also winds down and then eventually stops.