Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is feeding an infant with milk produced by a lactating parent’s breasts, either directly or after the milk is expressed.

Lactation: The production and secretion of milk by mammary glands after pregnancy. Breastfeeding uses milk produced through this broader physiological process.
Expressed breast milk: Human milk removed from the breast by hand or with a pump. It allows feeding to continue when nursing directly is not possible.
Colostrum: The first milk produced after birth, typically concentrated and present in small quantities. It is the initial milk an infant receives during breastfeeding.
Infant formula: A manufactured substitute designed to meet infants’ nutritional needs when human milk is not used or sufficient. It is the main alternative to feeding an infant human milk.
Prolactin: A pituitary hormone that stimulates milk production after childbirth. Suckling helps maintain prolactin release and ongoing milk synthesis.
Breast pump: A device that removes milk from the breast by suction. Pumping can support milk expression, supply, or feeding during separation.
Breastfeeding cues: Infant behaviors that can signal readiness to feed, such as rooting and hand-to-mouth movements. Recognizing cues can guide feeding before an infant becomes distressed.
Mixed feeding: Feeding an infant with both human milk and infant formula. It combines breastfeeding with formula feeding rather than relying on either alone.
Oxytocin: A hormone that causes milk ejection and uterine contractions. Its release triggers the let-down reflex during feeding.
Milk storage: Practices for safely refrigerating, freezing, thawing, and handling expressed human milk. Safe handling preserves expressed milk for later feeds.

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