Activation of Hormone Receptors to Increase Milk Supply

Activation of prolactin and oxytocin, the two most noteworthy hormones of lactation, is essential to increase milk supply (milk production). While both of these hormones will circulate in your bloodstream after the birth of your baby, they will be in less-than-optimal amounts for full milk production if you do not actively work to increase them.

Prolactin is primarily responsible for the development of mammary glands and milk production. Oxytocin is primarily responsible for the contraction of mammary alveoli, leading to the forceful expulsion of milk from the back of the breast out through the nipple. These contractions are known as let-downs and play a part in preventing milkfat from sticking to the sides of milk ducts, leading to increased caloric content of your milk and decreasing the risk of blocked ducts. The mammary alveoli needs signals from both of these hormones to make and secrete milk.

The most potent stimulator of prolactin is comfortable nipple stimulation or suckling, but frequent milk removal also plays a huge part. This is why it is important to be sure you help your baby to achieve the best possible latch, you use correctly fitted pump flanges, and you perform hand expression frequently until you achieve full milk production. Prolactin naturally increases during sleep but immediately decreases upon awakening. This is why it is important that you feed or remove milk several times during the night and almost immediately upon awakening. Oxytocin helps increase prolactin levels by decreasing dopamine levels. Ongoing milk removal continues to activate prolactin receptors but the number of receptors decreases over time.

Activation of sensory nerves help to activate oxytocin. These nerves are activated through touch, smell, sight, and sound. Performing skin-to-skin is one of the best ways to activate oxytocin. Smelling your baby or clothes your baby has worn, relaxing with a heating pad over your shoulders or a gentle neck and shoulder massage, comfortable nipple stimulation by your baby, your pump, or massage, and painless breastfeeding all increase oxytocin levels. If you are having difficulty reaching full milk production, especially if you are pumping and do not have direct contact with your baby, be sure to focus on smells, pictures, items your baby has touched to activate these nerves. Multi-tasking and focusing on other sensory input instead of focusing on your baby can cause oxytocin levels to be diminished.