Human Lactation and Breastfeeding

Lactation is the secretion of milk from the mammary glands located in the breasts of sexually mature females. The mammary glands have various parts which work together in order to produce milk, which include alveoli, milk ducts, areola and nipple. Lactation is the biological response which takes place during and after pregnancy for feeding a newborn baby. The breastfeeding phase can continue till two or more years, and it has a significant role in the infant's development and lifelong health. Nutrition in the early life provides an opportunity for improving the health of an infant in the short and long term. This helps in the reduction of risk of various diseases, like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and ear infections. Furthermore, breastfeeding can help in decreasing the risk of diabetes, food allergies, and asthma. This book provides comprehensive insights on lactation and breastfeeding. It is a resource guide for experts as well as students.