Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds an infant, toddler or a young child with milk produced from her breasts, usually directly from the nipples. Babies have a sucking instinct that enables them to take in the milk.

Lactation without pregnancy

Although it is not widely known in developed countries, women who have never been pregnant are able to lactate and therefore breastfeed as well. This is called induced lactation; while a woman who has lactated before and re-starts is said to "relactate". If the nipples are stimulated as in breastfeeding for a while (such as by a breast pump or actual suckling), eventually the breasts will begin to produce milk which can be used to feed a baby. Once established, lactation adjusts to demand. For this reason, adoptive mothers, usually initially in conjuction with some form of supplementation, are able to breastfeed their infants and young children http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/. There is thought to be little or no difference in milk composition whether lactation is induced or a result of pregnancy. There is also evidence of male lactation.

Related Topics:
Induced lactation - Breast pump - Adoptive mothers - Male lactation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~