Suckling
Suckling
Suckling (/ˈsʌklɪŋ/), also known as breastfeeding or nursing, is the process by which a mother feeds her baby with milk directly from her breasts.
Etymology
The term "suckling" originates from the Old English sūcan, which means "to suck". The term was later adapted to suckling to refer to an infant or young animal in the process of sucking milk.
Process
During suckling, the baby latches onto the mother's nipple and sucks, which stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. This hormone triggers the milk ejection reflex, causing milk to be pushed from the alveoli, through the ducts and out the nipple into the baby's mouth.
Related Terms
- Breast Milk: The milk produced by the mammary glands of a human female to feed a child.
- Lactation: The process of producing breast milk.
- Oxytocin: A hormone that plays a role in social bonding, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth.
- Alveoli: Tiny, sac-like structures in the breast where milk is produced.
- Mammary Gland: The organ in female mammals that produces milk for feeding offspring.
Health Benefits
Suckling has numerous health benefits for both the mother and the baby. For the baby, breast milk provides the ideal nutrition and a mix of vitamins, protein, and fat. It also contains antibodies that help the baby fight off viruses and bacteria. For the mother, breastfeeding burns extra calories, helps return the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces bleeding after delivery.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Suckling
- Wikipedia's article - Suckling
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