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Biomedical Basics

Breastfeeding physiology and support

  • Created by Henry Stewart Talks
Published on April 30, 2026   4 min

A selection of talks on Reproduction & Development

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The topic of breastfeeding physiology and support will be explored through the biological and physiological foundations of breastfeeding, including the hormonal and cellular processes involved in milk production and the milk ejection reflex. We will explore the different stages of breast milk, its evolving composition, and its critical role in infant nutrition and immune protection. Key techniques for successful breastfeeding and common challenges will be discussed, along with strategies for overcoming them through support and education. Finally, we will highlight the numerous health benefits breastfeeding offers both infants and mothers, emphasizing the importance of maternal nutrition. Breastfeeding is an orchestrated biological process rooted in evolutionary adaptation, providing optimal nutrition, immune protection, and bonding for infants. Understanding its physiology helps support mothers and babies effectively. Lactation begins during pregnancy with mammary glands preparing for milk production. After birth, milk synthesis, lactogenesis is triggered by hormonal changes, coordinated by endocrine, neural, and local cellular factors to meet the infant's needs. Milk production or lactogenesis occurs in two stages. During pregnancy, lactogenesis one is marked by rising progesterone and estrogen preparing the breast. After birth, a sharp drop in progesterone and sustained prolactin trigger milk secretion, lactogenesis two. Prolactin from the anterior pituitary, stimulated by nipple contact, drives milk synthesis.

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Breastfeeding physiology and support

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