Hello wise ones, can you please help me out of a confusion in my bf-theory
education?  I seem to have learned two things that seem to be contradictory,
but I suspect I am just missing third, explanatory fact that will clarify all.

On the one hand I was taught that the foremilk is present in the breast before
the baby begins to feed, and that the continued suction causes the breast
actually to produce the hindmilk as the feed continues.

On the other hand I have heard from many of you that breast compression
increases the calories that a baby is getting during the feeding.

I used to believe that this was because it stimulated the breasts to better
let down, or drain out, hindmilk that was already in the breasts, high and
back in the milk sinuses.  But this seems would suggest that the hindmilk was
in fact already in the breast at that time, and seems inconsistent with the
idea that the hindmilk is actually produced while the baby in nursing.

So then does breast compression somehow send a signal to the breasts to
produce a higher proportion of hindmilk than they are stimulated to do by
suckling alone?  And if so, is anything known of the mechanism through which
this works?

Any clarification from those with better lactational anatomy than mine will be
much appreciated.

Elisheva

Elisheva S. Urbas
NYC