Definition
- Lactation is the synthesis and secretion of milk from mammary alveoli, initiated after parturition when the high prolactin of pregnancy acts unopposed by falling estrogen and progesterone.
- Colostrum, a protein-rich fluid secreted immediately after delivery, is replaced by mature milk in 24 to 48 hours.
Breast Milk: Composition and Functional Significance
- Human milk supplies carbohydrate (lactose), protein (casein), fat, minerals and vitamins in adequate quantity, and contains antibodies protecting the newborn from infection.
Composition of human milk, major constituents
Component
Water
- Amount
- 87%
Solids
- Amount
- 13%
Protein
- Amount
- 2.5 g%
Carbohydrate (lactose)
- Amount
- 6 g%
Fat
- Amount
- 5 g%
Calories
- Amount
- 67 kcal/100 g