Oxytocin delivers milk

While prolactin is essential for initiating and maintaining lactation, oxytocin is keyed more closely to milk ejection. Oxytocin receptor sites in the breast gradually increase by 10 fold in pregnancy. Just before delivery the number of oxytocin receptor sites in the uterus increase dramatically and then suddenly disappear after the birth. Oxytocin is taken up by the uterus first to facilitate delivery, prevent postpartum hemorrhage by uterine contraction and then cause milk ejection. The nipple becomes more sensitive to tactile stimulation in the 24 hours following birth. Stretch receptors in the nipple stimulate the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary. Oxytocin causes the let-down reflex or milk ejection response.
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"Hard nipples" - areola or nipple skin

Someone once wrote"... when i get really cold, or get goosebumbs all over my body, the whole things really scrunch up, like, my entire areola scrunches itself up into a wrinkled little mound. it looks really weird and ugly, and i haven't ever seen other people's breasts do it. what is wrong with my areola/nipples??" The answer: Well nothing is wrong. This is what my areola does too. It's a normal reaction to the coldness or to irritation / stimulation. The little muscles in the areola do a similar goosebump thing as your other skin can do. People often call this phenomenon "hard nipples". Also note that skin on areola has less feeling or sensation to it than other areas of your body. If the areola was very sensitive, then breastfeeding would probably be quite uncomfortable because the baby pulls and tugs it! The nipples are sensitive but the sensitivity changes with hormonal changes, such as occur at mestrual cycle or pregnancy. Also this v...

Kate Jackson Breast Cancer a flash back

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I am still a woman - Confessions of a twice cancer survivor - my journey by Nina Ann McCurley

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