Lactation

Explanation

Lactation

In this chapter, we will go through the process of lactation. It is one of the primary processes associated with reproduction. In this process, the female mammals produce feeding milk for the newborn. In here we will be discussing regarding the process and mechanism of lactation and also will learn about the hormones that are primarily responsible for lactation.

What is Lactation?

Lactation is the mechanism that felicitates the secretion of milk from the mammary glands for the time that a mother lactates to feed her young. It is a naturally occurring process which occurs to all the post-pregnancy female mammals. In most of the species, this process usually carried out by nipple, but in case of the monotremes egg-laying mammals, they lack nipples, so theyrelease milk through ducts in the abdomen. In the case of humans, the process of feeding milk, also known as breastfeeding or nursing is usually the milk that comes out of the nipple. The milk, thus produced, provides nutrition and immunity to the young one. In the process of lactation, Galactopoiesis plays a very important role. This is the maintenance of the production of milk.  At this stage, the production of prolactin is required. oxytocin is critical for the milk let-down reflex in response to suckling. However, the process of Galactorrhea in milk production is unrelated to nursing. It can occur in males and females of many mammal species as a result of hormonal imbalances such as hyperprolactinemia. In only one of the species of mammals the Dayak fruit bat from Southeast Asia, the milk production is being carried out by the male of the race.

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