Why Can Infant Sucking Promote Lactation Initiation
May 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the reasons why infant sucking promotes lactation include stimulating nerve reflexes, promoting the secretion of prolactin and oxytocin, establishing a positive feedback loop, and enhancing mammary gland function. Infant sucking promotes the process of initiating lactation through multiple mechanisms, including stimulating nerve reflexes, promoting the secretion of prolactin and oxytocin, forming a positive feedback cycle, and enhancing mammary gland function.
Generally, the reasons why infant sucking can promote lactation include stimulating nerve reflexes, promoting prolactin secretion, promoting oxytocin secretion, forming a positive feedback cycle, and enhancing mammary gland function. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Stimulating Nerve Reflexes
When an infant suckles the mother's nipple, it stimulates the receptors in the nipple and areola area. This stimulation is transmitted through nerves to the mother's hypothalamus, triggering a series of physiological responses. This natural nerve reflex is one of the important mechanisms that promote milk secretion by the mammary glands.
2. Promoting Prolactin Secretion
After being stimulated, the hypothalamus prompts the pituitary gland to secrete prolactin. Prolactin is a key hormone that primarily promotes the development and growth of mammary glands and stimulates milk production. Infant sucking effectively increases prolactin secretion, thereby promoting milk production.
3. Promoting Oxytocin Secretion
In addition to prolactin, infant sucking also stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete oxytocin. Oxytocin also plays an important role in milk secretion, primarily stimulating the myoepithelial cells surrounding the mammary alveoli and ducts, thereby squeezing milk into the milk ducts and triggering the milk ejection reflex.
4. Forming a Positive Feedback Cycle
Frequent sucking by the infant continuously stimulates the mother's mammary glands, prompting continuous release of prolactin and oxytocin from the pituitary gland. This ongoing stimulation and hormone release create a positive feedback cycle, gradually increasing milk production to meet the infant's growth needs.
5. Enhancing Mammary Gland Function
Frequent sucking not only helps meet the infant's nutritional needs but also ensures that the mother's mammary glands remain in optimal working condition. This mechanism not only supports the infant's growth and development but also helps the mother maintain adequate milk supply during lactation.
Infant sucking promotes the lactation process through multiple mechanisms, including stimulating nerve reflexes, promoting the secretion of prolactin and oxytocin, forming a positive feedback cycle, and enhancing mammary gland function. Mothers should encourage infants to suckle frequently during breastfeeding to ensure sufficient milk production.
