Dear Wise Ones,

  I have two breast anatomy questions/musings.

Nipple sphincter- I have been thinking about nipple sphincters a lot lately
and having a difficult time finding much in the literature about them.  Do
any of you have suggestions of where to find resources on nipple
sphincters- what affects them, how they work, disorders (too tight, too
loose etc.)  I think it is an area that isn't talked about much in the
field of lactation (at least I haven't heard much about them) and perhaps
not enough is known about them.  Do nipple sphincters being too tight in
the first week postpartum contribute to engorgement?  Is OAMER affected by
sphincters that are too loose and wide open, and don't control the milk
flow as they should?  Are they affected by oxytocin or are they like other
muscles that relax with warmth?

Breast ducts- I have no idea how to phrase this in order to search for
articles about it.  Last night, while nursing my 17 month old son, I cupped
my hand on my breast and firmly pressed down.  With each suck, I could feel
tugging inside my breast.  Have any of you noticed this before?  Could it
mean that as the nipple is tugged during each suck, that the ducts are
tugged inside the breast?  What I am imagining is the nipple is like a tree
trunk, and if you tug on upwards on the trunk, the roots are also tugged.
Could this also be a factor in stimulating MER?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on my musings,

Sharon



-- 
Sharon Craig Economides, LM, CPM, MMid, IBCLC

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