Hormones Involved in Birth and Lactation
Find out about the hormones involved in Birth & Lactation. For each
one, state where it is secreted from and what its effects are.
Describe whether the mechanisms involved are negative or positive
feedback.
There are several different hormones that influence the female
reproductive system and the two most fundamental hormones are
progesterone and oestrogen. Progesterone is a steroid hormone and has
a number of physiological effects on the body such as normalising
blood clotting and vascular tone, zinc and copper levels, cell oxygen
levels, and the use of fat stores for energy and it also assists in
the thyroid function. It is usually required to normalise or restore
changes caused by oestrogen. It affects all aspects of pregnancy,
prepares breasts for lactation and the relaxation of joints and
ligaments in preparation of childbirth. It can affect bowel movements
usually causing constipation and back pain and raises the body
temperature.
Oestrogens are a group of steroid compounds that function as the
primary female sex hormone. Developing follicles in the ovaries, the
corpus luteum and the placenta primarily produces them and some
secondary sources in smaller amounts can be found in the liver,
adrenal glands and breasts. Although oestrogen is present in both male
and females, it is found to be significantly higher in women and is
involved in controlling the menstrual cycle. As does progesterone,
oestrogen also affects all aspects of the pregnancy and is
particularly important in maintaining the health of the genital track,
the reproductive organs and the breasts.
Throughout ...
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...en the demand for breastfeeding is no more the
lactation will usually cease with one to two weeks. High prolactin
levels also tend to suppress the ovulatory cycle by inhibiting FSH.
Oxytocin also plays a role in lactating, as it is this hormone that
stimulates the myoepithelial cells causing the milk to be ejected into
the ducts of the mammary glands. Suckling by the baby on the nipple
again will stimulate oxytocin release. The release of oxytocin in this
instance, and prolactin are controlled by negative feedback unlike the
release of oxytocin during childbirth.
Based on information taken from:
1. Biology a Functional Approach by MBV Roberts, 4th Edition
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lactation
3. Pregnancy and Birth by Miriam Stoppard Published 1986
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Sorensen, J., & Abbott, E. (2004). The Maternity and Infancy Revolution. Maternal & Child Health Jounal, 8(3), 107-110. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=14089739&site=ehost-live
HCG which tells the body that it has produced to much ooestrogen. The body counteracts
“High levels of hormones can cause problems in the human body, but can hormones we ingest really alter our hormone level...
Each second of fetal development during pregnancy is of extreme importance. This period of prenatal development is a time of change and growth with many factors affecting all areas of growth. Different stimuli having long-lasting effects on development is a process known as programming. The goal of this first article, (put the name of the article here) is to look into the idea of programming and how the influence of stress effects prenatal development. It begins with a biological approach. Looking at the role of Glucocorticoids cortisol in fetal development, the article states that they play a critical role in development and are associated with the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, one of the body’s major stress responsive systems.” (Davis & Sandman, 2010) This cortisol increases in mothers over the course of pregnancy and is important in brain development in the fetus. While these Glucocorticoids are important and essential to prenatal development, overexposure can lead to negative effects, including emotional disturbances in early childhood, deregulated stress responses in infa...
When mothers give birth, they have a decision to make. New mothers must decide whether to breastfeed or to formula feed. Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the mother and baby. Some mothers may not have the choice to breastfeed, so they choose to formula feed. Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding has been a big issue throughout modern time, with new mothers debating which one is better. Breastfeeding is best for the growth and development of a baby.
First, the pituitary gland in the brain produces the hormone follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen, which thickens the uterine lining and begins to develop an egg in the ovary. About 14 days later, the pituitary gland produces another hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). LH causes the egg to come out of a sac in the ovary (ovulation). The empty sac on the ovary called the corpus luteum is stimulated by another hormone from the pituitary gland called luteotropin. The corpus luteum begins to produce the estrogen and progesterone hormone. The progesterone hormone prepares the lining of the uterus to have the fertilized egg (egg combined with sperm) attach to the lining of the uterus and begin to develop into a fetus. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum stops producing estrogen and progesterone, it disappears, the lining of the uterus sloughs off and a menstrual period begins. Then the menstrual cycle starts all over again and will continue monthly unless pregnancy occurs or menopause
Other researchers propose that girls are more resilient to these prenatal factors. Among the theories that favor this protective feature, we find those ones that defend a higher exposure to female sex hormones and to oxytocin at critical periods of fetal development (Goldman, 2013). However, little research has proven the protective effect of female sex hormones (Robinson, Lichtenstein, Anckarsäterd, Happée, & Ronalde, 2013).
Mulder, P. J. (2006,). A concept analysis of effective breastfeeding. JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 35, 332-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00050.x
Zanardo, V., Svegliado, G., Cavallin, F., Giustardi, A., Cosmi, E., Litta, P., & Trevisanuto, D. (2010). Elective cesarean delivery: Does it have a negative effect on breastfeeding? Birth, 37(4), 275-279. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.summit.csuci.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=f4eb05fd-f93d-45bf-aa4d-ef5c14821ea7%40sessionmgr4004&vid=4&hid=4207
Choosing to breastfeed is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself and your baby. A change in hormones during pregnancy causes your breast tissue to grow and increases the number and size of your milk ducts. These hormones also allow proteins, carbohydrates, and fats from your blood supply to make breast milk in your milk-producing glands. Hormones prevent breast milk from being released before your baby is born. They also prompt milk flow after birth. Once breastfeeding has begun, thoughts of your baby, as well as his or her sucking or crying, can stimulate the release of milk from your milk-producing glands.
As we know, when I woman becomes pregnant, the body often needs to adjust and change accordingly in order to fully accommodate the development of the fetus for at least nine months. Not only do these changes help assist in the development of the fetus but such changes also offer nutritional benefits as well as other benefits, pro...
Throughout this reading the intention is to educate that breast milk provides the perfect nutrition and great brain development. Second, the cost and savings of breast milk will be mentioned. Third, some benefits of breast milk will be discussed. Last to be talked about is the effect breast milk has on the environment.
Also known as perinatology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine is an evolving field in medicine. This field refers to the specialized care of pregnant women and their unborn babies. There are several needs and uses for Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) doctors. Some uses include having a consultation from MFM doctors because they are at “high risk” and are considering getting pregnant or are already pregnant and have high risk for complications.
“ Being a Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” MMMMM. Being mother is one of the most blessed and the most challenging job in the world. Giving birth to a new life and making it walk through the new world holding its hands showing a good trail makes a mother victorious in her life. In this modern world women’s attitude against pregnancy and being a mother is changing accordingly. There occurs so many miscarriages and maternal death during the pregnancy. A woman should be physically, and more over mentally set to have a baby in her womb. Considering the biological fitness of health it’s said that safer age to be get pregnant is in between 20 to 29. Early pregnancy in the teenage age of 13 to 20 and the delayed motherhood age after 35 is challenging to the health of mother as well as the birth of the child causing currently social issues India.