How the breast works

Breasts come in many shape and sizes. This has no effect on the milk production. A woman with small breasts can produce the same amount of milk as a woman with larger breasts.

The dark area around the nipple is called areola. On the areola you find the Montgomery glands, they look like small pimples.
They produce an oil that lubricates the nipple and discourages the growth of bacteria. At the end of the nipple you'll find the nipple pores where your baby receives the milk through.

Milk is produced in the alveoli, grape like clusters of glandular tissue deep within the breast.
From the alveoli the milk is expelled in small milk ducts and they empty into larger ducts.
These larger ducts widen underneath the nipple and areola and form reservoirs where milk collects.

The milk collected in these reservoirs or sinuses is the milk the baby receives first when he starts to nurse. It is called "fore milk". It is thirst quenching, high in volume, low in fat.
While your baby nurses, new milk is being produced in the alveoli.
This milk contains more proteins, fat and calories than the fore milk and this is the milk that puts weight on your baby. It is called "hind milk".

The baby's sucking causes a hormone called oxytocin to squeeze this milk down the ducts to the nipple.
This is called the "let-down reflex" and you may feel a tingling feeling in your breast.
This usually happens a minute or so after your baby starts nursing.

 

Prenatal nipple care

At one time it was recommended to prepare your nipples during pregnancy in order to avoid sore nipples during breastfeeding (rubbing them with a towel or squeezing out colostrum).
This has not been proven helpful.

It is now recognized that poor positioning and latch-on of the baby is the most common cause of nipple soreness in the early weeks of breastfeeding and careful attention needs to be paid to these aspects. Nipple preparation is no longer recommended.

It is best to avoid using soap, alcohol or antiseptics on your nipples since they can dry the skin.
Rinsing with plain water when you take your shower is enough.
If your skin feels dry you can put some modified lanolin or other cream recommended by your GP or midwife.

It is a good idea to check for flat or inverted nipples during the last months of pregnancy.
This can be done as follows: place a thumb and forefinger near the base of the nipple and press gently together. If your nipple does not come out far enough for you to grasp it, you may have flat or inverted nipples  and you may want to start wearing breast shells during the last months of your pregnancy.