Nicki notes:
<What about the primalacta, who leaks with a first baby during the early
postpartum, and not with subsequent babies? Is there some structure that
learns or modifies during the course of subsequent lactations?>

For a fascinating read in a relatively easy to find reference:

Russo J, lRusso IH Development of the Human Mammary Gland in: The Mammary
Gland, Development, Regulation, and Function ed. by Neville MC, Daniels
CW 1987 Plenum Press, NY. pp 67-93.

They state something to the effect that the breast is a dynamic organ in
continuous change, depending on the age, reproductive etc. history of the
woman. Fatty cells come and go depending on whether glandular tissue is
developing in a pregnancy or involution is taking place, etc. They have
pie charts illustrating the various percentages of fatty, connective,
glandular, etc. tissues depending of the age and reproductive stage of
the several dozen cadavers they dissected. Some authors have referred to
the breast as 'an envelope of skin' with different contents at different
times in life.

Just to hazard a few guesses: we know the breast tends to be less "perky"
with age, so perhaps there is less external pressure as it becomes
slightly more pendulous outside, and perhaps the ducts may have been
expanded by the supply during the first lactation, and therefore, expand
more easily to contain the milk with subsequent lactations, like the
teen-age cramps our old docs told us would go away after we'd had a
baby????? 

And there may always be a difference in the actual birth management
process that effects the early swelling of the breast, and also
differences in suckling, with a vigorous well latched baby probably
stimulating a bigger supply than a weaker or poorly latched baby. We know
of course that the reverse is generally true, thus "insurance pumping" in
some situations. Generalizations are not always helpful. Every situation
is unique, with multiple contributing factors. Part of the art of
lactation consulting is to assess them as thoroughly as practical and
factor in whether there is a need for interventions.


Jean
************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html