Breast feeding

Many women feel that breastfeeding may cause their breasts to become misshapen, but this is an unfounded fear and is mostly based on myths rather than fact. Most doctors and surgeons state that it is genetics, aging and other lifestyle related factors that will cause the breast to sag rather than breastfeeding.

The "prolactin" receptors within the breast stimulate the production of milk. The more frequent the removal of milk, the more active these receptors will be. This will result in more frequent production of milk and is thus the most important and primary factor that determines the mother's ability to produce milk.

As babies gain weight, they begin to have more at each feeding and go longer between feedings. Still, there may be times when your little one seems hungrier than usual. This is a period of rapid growth which is called a growth spurt. These are periods where the baby may face rapid growth. These usually occur during the first week after birth, then in the third week, again in the third month and the sixth month. These spurts may last a couple of days and even upto a week. After the end of the spurt, the milk production will return back to normal as your baby resumes a normal feeding pattern.

Breasts are a sensitive area and have millions of nerve endings within them. It is thus normal to feel sexual arousal while trying to breast feed a baby and many women have even reported getting orgasms while breastfeeding. Due to the guilt associated with this, many women are embarrassed to talk about it. However you should look at it as a normal bodily function and thus should not feel guilty or embarrassed about it.