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Breast Volume and Milk Production During Extended Lactation in Women
Author(s) -
Kent Jacqueline C.,
Mitoulas Leon,
Cox David B.,
Owens Robyn A.,
Hartmann Peter E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-445x.1999.01808.x
Subject(s) - lactation , weaning , breast milk , milk production , medicine , zoology , breast tissue , chemistry , biology , pregnancy , breast cancer , biochemistry , genetics , cancer
SUMMARY Quantitative measurements were made of relative breast volume and milk production from 1 month of lactation until 3 months after weaning, and the storage capacity of the breasts was calculated. The increase in breast tissue volume from before conception until 1 month of lactation was maintained for the first 6 months of lactation (means ± s.e.m. ) (190·3 ± 13·1 ml, number of breasts, n b = 46). During this period of exclusive breast‐feeding, 24 h milk production from each breast remained relatively constant (453·6 ± 20·1 g, n b = 48), and storage capacity was 209·9 ± 11·0 ml ( n b = 46). After 6 months, breast volume, milk production and storage capacity all decreased. There was a relationship between 24 h milk production and the storage capacity of the breasts, and these both appeared to be responding to infant demand for milk. At 15 months of lactation, the 24 h milk production of each breast was substantial (208·0 ± 56·7 g, n b = 6), even though the breasts had returned to preconception size. This was associated with an apparent increased efficiency of the breast (milk production per unit breast tissue) after 6 months, which may have been due to redistribution of tissues within the breast. The possible causes of the decrease in breast volume are discussed.