Foremilk-Hindmilk, what really happens?

By:  Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC  NYC  cwgenna.com

When milk is made, the protein, sugars, water are all secreted into the

lumen outside the cluster of milk making cells as they are produced. But

the fat gathers into a milk fat globule, which becomes bound by a

membrane and makes its' way to the top of the cell (the lumen side)

where it waits until the Milk Ejection Reflex (MER) or what is referred to as the "let down."  
When the MER happens, the fat globule and

some additional membrane is squeezed off the surface of the cell and

enters the lumen to mix with the low fat milk that is already there.

During a feeding, there are multiple milk ejections. Each one pushes

some more fat off some more lactocytes, increasing the fat concentration

of the milk. Since the baby is also drinking the milk that is in the

front of the breast, the fat content of the milk keeps increasing with

each MER.

Now, when the feeding ends things get really complicated. The unconsumed

milk travels back up the ducts, so the milk making cells can sense how

much got taken (by the pressure the milk exerts). We don't think the fat

goes back into the cells. We're not sure what happens to it.

If the baby nurses again soon, the milk will be higher in fat. If it is

a longer time, the breast will again dilute the fat that is already in

the ducts from the previous MER by continuing to secrete all the other

milk components into the lumen.

Make sense now?

Bottom line, breastmilk averages out 20 calories per ounce throughout the day, sometimes more, sometimes less.  The QUALITY of breastmilk can NOT be questioned, the QUANTITY should be suspect if concerns arise.


Let's Start to Think

The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie-deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.  Belief in  myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought - John F Kennedy. 

Most moms are not making it past the first few weeks of breastfeeding because they are being sabotaged daily by cultural and institutional barriers - or as we call them, the "booby traps!"   Think about it.  Why, all of a sudden, for the first time in millenia, do women fear that they are not capable of producing enough milk for their babes?   Why do we hear so many stories of women who "couldn't" breastfeed, or that it was hard, or painful?   Why are so few women making it to the recommended goals?   Have our breasts mutated?  Have our babies mutated?   Of course not!

Want to know the "Inconvenient Truth" about breastfeeding?  Here it is:
Women are being pressured to breastfeed but set up to fail!
By Danielle Rigg, JD, CLC and Bettina Forbes, CLC 

To read more, click here