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Breast volume and milk production during extended lactation in women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2001

Jacqueline C. Kent ,
Leon Mitoulas ,
David B. Cox ,
Robyn A. Owens  and
Peter E. Hartmann
Jacqueline C. Kent
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
Leon Mitoulas
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
David B. Cox
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
Robyn A. Owens
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
Peter E. Hartmann
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
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Abstract

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, nb = 46). During this period of exclusive breast-feeding, 24 h milk production from each breast remained relatively constant (453.6 ± 20.1 g, nb = 48), and storage capacity was 209.9 ± 11.0 ml (nb = 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, nb = 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.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Physiology , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , March 1999 , pp. 435 - 447
Copyright
© The Physiological Society 1999

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