Hi, Nikki:  There are lots of interesting things about the "biology" of
nursing in the cultural anthropology literature, as well as in
zoology/biology/mammalian literature.  When we look at humans in their
mammalian context, we discover that higher order primates (of which humans
are one) are designed to nurse 40,50,60 times/24 hours. Correct me if I'm
wrong, but I believe that the human breast anatomy and subsequent
physiology is designed to provide continuous milk flow. Remember, there is
no "storage" space in the human breast like there is in a cow's udder.
There is no such thing as an EMPTY breast.  I believe the more correct way
to think (and to teach to mothers) is that the breast is MORE FULL at the
beginning of a feeding and LESS FULL after a feeding and that milk (in the
correct composition for that particular feeding)continues to be made even
as baby actively nurses at the breast during a feeding.  As far as the fat
content/overall chemical composition of the milk goes, I believe it changes
constantly before, during, after feedings to meet the
physiologic/nutritional needs of the baby at any given moment.  I'm very
careful when discussing this with mothers (in fact, I don't discuss it with
them unless they bring it up) because for many mothers, this is too much
information.  It's more important that they relax and enjoy nursing their
babies, rather than get hung up on whether they have enough hind milk.
Just my 2 cents...

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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