Research Article:
  Human breast areolae as scent organs: Morphological data and possible
involvement in maternal-neonatal coadaptation


Developmental Psychobiology<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/29287>,
*Volume 48, Issue
2*<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jissue/112404020>,Pages
100 - 110

*Published Online:* 17 Feb 2006 Copyright (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  Keywords  human neonate • breast-feeding • colostrum • milk • lactation •
areola • skin glands • olfaction • mother-infant relation

  Abstract  In humans, areolar skin glands (AG) enlarge during pregnancy and
lactation. Their role in mother-infant interactions may pertain to
protective, mechanical, and communicative functions. It was questioned here
whether more profuse AG could be related to more optimal adaptation to
breastfeeding. A morphological study of the areolae was undertaken between
birth and day 3 to assess the number, secretory status, and spatial
distribution of AG. These data were related to infants' weight variation,
mothers' perception of their infant's behavior at breast, and time between
delivery and onset of lactation. AG were seen in virtually all women but
with great interindividual variations; their areolar distribution was
nonrandom, and about 1/5 of the women had AG giving off a secretion. The AG
number was positively related with neonatal weight gain between birth and
day 3, and with the mother's perception of infant's latching speed and
sucking activity. AG numbers were also positively related with the onset of
lactation in first-time mothers. In conclusion, the maternal endowment in AG
may contribute to the infants' breastfeeding performance, early growth, and
the mother's lactation onset. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psyshobiol
48: 100-110, 2006.
------------------------------
 Jean
********
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, OH USA

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