7+ Jenis Hormon ASI yang Menghasilkan Nutrisi Penting untuk Bayi

Not only does it contain calories and nutrients, breast milk is also full of other substances such as hormones. These breast milk hormones play a role in improving a baby's health and development. This series of breast milk hormones is one of the many things that distinguish the composition of breast milk from infant formula.

What are hormones? Hormones are chemical substances released into the blood from various parts of the body. The function of hormones is to carry messages to organs and tissues to tell them what the body needs and what to do. Besides being in the blood, urine, and saliva, hormones can also be found in breast milk, you know.

What are the functions, benefits, and processes of how breast milk hormones work to produce breast milk? Check out the following review.

Types and Functions of Breast Milk Hormones

Breast milk hormones include several types, each with its own function. Here is the breakdown one by one.

Prolactin: This is the hormone responsible for producing breast milk. Colostrum, the first breast milk fluid, contains high amounts of prolactin. After the first few days of breastfeeding, the amount of prolactin drops rapidly. Afterwards, the levels of prolactin in breast milk are almost the same as the levels of prolactin in the blood.

Thyroid Hormones (TSH, T3, and T4): Thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland have many important functions and affect almost every system in the body. Thyroxine (T4) helps the development of a newborn's intestines. Meanwhile, T3 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in breast milk also protect the baby from possible hypothyroidism.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): EGF stimulates cell growth and helps develop the newborn's digestive tract.

Beta-Endorphins: This breast milk hormone functions as a natural pain reliever for the little one. High levels of beta-endorphins are present in mothers who give birth normally, premature babies, and mothers who do not use an epidural.

Erythropoietin (EPO): The function of EPO is to regulate production and help the formation of red blood cells in the body.

Relaxin: The task of this hormone is to relax muscles, joints, and tendons. During childbirth, relaxin helps soften the cervix and loosen the pelvis. Meanwhile, in breast milk, relaxin plays a role in helping the growth of the baby's stomach and intestines.

Cortisol: Colostrum contains high cortisol which affects the amount of secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA). IgA is an important antibody that protects the baby from disease.

Benefits of Prolactin and Oxytocin in Breast Milk Production

We all know that breast milk hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, both work as a team to regulate breastfeeding. Both of these hormones are produced in the mother's brain with tasks that work, with the image of being like an "orderer" and a "provider".

Prolactin sends a signal so the mother's body knows to start producing breast milk. The more the baby breastfeeds, the more prolactin is produced, meaning the baby acts as an orderer of breast milk.

Then oxytocin appears and delivers breast milk from the breast to the baby's mouth, which is known as the let-down reflex. This breast milk hormone also triggers feelings of love, motherhood, and extraordinary pleasure.

Both prolactin and oxytocin work together to continuously increase breast milk supply and enhance the amazing bonding between mother and baby. Breast milk supply will increase along with the frequency of the baby breastfeeding, where the mother will truly fall in love with her little one because oxytocin hormones continue to flood the mother's body.

Here is the Process of Hormone Production & the Release of Breast Milk from the Mother's Nipple

What is the process of hormones working to produce extraordinary breast milk for the baby? We have an overview.

As soon as the baby starts breastfeeding, nerve impulses are sent to the mother's brain and the pituitary gland is activated. The pituitary gland is where prolactin and oxytocin are produced and released into the mother's bloodstream. Upon reaching the lactocytes in the breast, prolactin triggers cells to collect all the components needed to produce breast milk.

Oxytocin stimulates small myoepithelial cells in the alveoli to contract and squeeze milk into the lactiferous ducts. Milk moves along the ducts toward the nipple and then gathers in the slightly protruding area just below the areola.

When the baby breastfeeds with a good latch, its tongue will press on the bulging area, then spray breast milk into its mouth.

Challenges & Factors that Inhibit Breast Milk Production

Several factors and conditions that can inhibit a mother's breast milk production include:

1. Not having enough breast glandular tissue to increase a full breast milk supply for the baby.
2. Having undergone breast reduction surgery because the procedure is invasive and can remove breast glandular tissue.
3. Experiencing medical conditions that can cause low breast milk supply, such as PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
4. Hormonal imbalances that make it difficult for the mother to get pregnant can also affect breast milk production.
5. The food intake consumed by the mother affects breast milk production, so ensure the mother consumes nutritious food to encourage breast milk production.
6. Fatigue and lack of rest can affect breast milk production. So try to get the mother to rest when the baby sleeps and ask for help from a partner or family.
7. If the mother becomes pregnant again while still breastfeeding, hormones that appear during pregnancy can decrease breast milk supply.
8. The use of hormonal contraception can increase estrogen levels which can decrease breast milk production. So consult a doctor if you want to use contraception while breastfeeding.
9. The mother's physical and psychological condition can also affect the production of breast milk hormones. For that, manage stress well and do things to relax yourself.

Every mother's condition and experience is different. If you have concerns related to the inhibiting factors of breast milk production above, it is best to immediately make an appointment with a doctor or lactation consultant to get the right treatment solution.

Breast milk contains various hormones that affect health, growth, development, immune function, and other body systems in the baby. Although the function of breast milk hormones is still being researched, these hormones are believed to be important in breast milk nutrition.

Keep following the latest articles about breastfeeding and parenting from Hegen. Also get baby gear products starting from multipurpose breast milk bottles, electric and manual breast pumps, the best baby pacifiers, and various other products that you need only on theofficial Hegen website.

References

1. Alodokter.com. This is the Process of Breast Milk Formation and Ways to Support Breast Milk Production. https://www.alodokter.com/inilah-proses-terbentuknya-asi-dan-cara-menunjang-produksi-asi
2. Donna Murray, RN, BSN. Overview of the Hormones in Breast Milk. Very Well Family. https://www.verywellfamily.com/hormones-in-breast-milk-3984343
3. Halodoc.com. Hormonal Disorders Can Cause Inconsistent Breast Milk. https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/gangguan-hormon-dapat-sebabkan-asi-tidak-lancar
4. Hellosehat.com. How Breast Milk is Made, Here is the Process until it can be Received by the Baby. https://hellosehat.com/parenting/bayi/menyusui/cara-asi-dibuat/
5. KlikDokter.com. Beware, Hormonal Disorders Cause Inconsistent Breast Milk! https://www.klikdokter.com/ibu-anak/ibu-menyusui/awas-gangguan-hormon-sebabkan-asi-tidak-lancar
6. NHS Birth in Grampian. How Breastfeeding Works. https://www.birthingrampian.scot.nhs.uk/how-breastfeeding-works/
7. Nutriclub.co.id. Process and Mechanism of Breast Milk Release During Breastfeeding. https://www.nutriclub.co.id/artikel/kehamilan-menyusui/persalinan-menyusui/mekanisme-keluarnya-asi
8. Western Missouri Medical Center. Problems Producing Breast Milk. https://wmmc.com/problems-producing-breast-milk/