Some aspects of milk synthesis and composition in relationship to the mother's ability to breast-feed her infant

The problem of disordered lactation is a complex one and why some women should be unable to breast-feed their infants or only succeed in doing so for a limited period of time has never been fully understood. Many factors may account for inadequate lactation - factors concerning both mother and infant. Thus, where the mother is affected, her disability may arise from psychological or nutritional disturbances, endocrine dysfunction, or super-imposed systemic disorders. In the mammary gland itself, anatomical defect:, as well as disease, may sometimes be responsible for the mother's failure to breast - feed her infant. Although many cases of unsatisfactory lactation are probably due to these factors, the clinician is frequently satisfied in placing women in one or other category after a superficial examination and sometimes without completing a sufficient number of test -feeds. Thus, the aetiology and treatment of these cases is based merely on clinical impressions. Simple tests to determine the chemical composition of milk and its bacterial content are usually omitted, though it is hard to explain such neglect, because these lilies of investigation are frequently applied to cattle with sub-normal milk yields. Recently, however, the letting down of milk has been studied and thyroid and iodine therapy has been instituted it some cases to increase the milk yield, though the results so far have not been of outstanding practical value. The complete neglect of routine investigation of mothers with inadequate lactation is most unfortunate because a fuller understanding of such a disorder might result in mothers being judged more fairly and treated more efficiently by the physician. Moreover, a greater percentage of mothers woud be able to fulfil their ambition to breast-feed their infants, more mothers might enjoy better mental and physical health and more infants might pass unmolested through the hazards of the first year of life.

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Edinburgh

Year dc:date.issued

1949

Author dc:creator

• Miller, R. A.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/28634

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:era.ed.ac.uk:1842/28634