During the duration of breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin remains at high levels in the blood.
Before pregnancy, the hormone prolactin is in very low levels in the female body and increases during pregnancy. Next we are going to learn more about the hormone prolactin and its values.
The hormone prolactin
The hormone prolactin or luteotropin is made in the pituitary gland. It is not until after delivery when milk is produced in the mammary glands to meet the baby's needs. The placenta is delivered and prolactin rises, staying elevated the first months after the baby is born. In the event that the mother does not breastfeed her child, these values decrease.
During the duration of breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin remains at high levels in blood by stimulating the nipple and sucking to make the baby suck or perform a non-nutritive suction. The prolactin level is higher at night. The child at that time does not have to work so hard to suck and will feed the same or better than during the day. It is advisable for the mother to take breaks between feedings of her child, to hydrate and feed properly. It should be said then that when the child does not suckle, there will be no milk.
In pregnancy, the hormone prolactin is not so evident in the mother's body since the presence of progesterone and estrogens overlap it. As a general rule, the noticeable increase in prolactin occurs around 3-4 days after the delivery of the placenta. The baby suckles on demand and sucking will activate the hormone.
In breastfeeding, the mother's breast is the sustenance, not only food but also comfort and affection. The breast gives the child life, protects him, calms him, restores him to the tranquility that he lived in his maternal womb. While the hormone is present, the production of other hormones is inhibited and during the time of breastfeeding, menstruation is withdrawn and fertility is reduced, in other aspects.
Increased hormone prolactin
In order to regain normal values of the prolactian hormone, the cause of its rise must be found out and act accordingly.
The hormone prolactin is also found in men. Considering the specific issue, it is necessary to highlight that in women, prolactin must be below 25 ng / ml. It is important to know the reference values beforehand. If the existence of a tumor in the mother is suspected, due to these levels, the analysis is usually repeated every 6 months for a period greater than 1 year.
Generally, the increase in prolactin occurs more in women between the ages of 24 and 34 years of age. High prolactin can be a sign of pregnancy among other indications. It can also lead to hypothyroidism or the intake of a drug, such as antidepressants or estrogens, when the value exceeds 100 or 250 ng / ml. Symptoms of high prolactin are as follows:
- Infertility.
- Absence or delay of menstruation.
- Production, even if there is no pregnancy, of milk.
- Osteoporosis.
- Decreased libido.
- Alterations in sight.
- Headache.
Some of the reasons for an increase in prolactin hormone in women are the following:
- Breastfeeding:
- Stimulation in the breasts.
- Diseases of the hypothalamus.
- Syndrome polycystic ovaries (about 30% of cases)
- Anorexia.
- Intense activity
- Kidney disorders.
- Sleep, psychological stress and anxiety.
- Head and chest surgery.
- Brain tumor.
- The act sexual.
- High intake of protein and fat.
Is it possible to get pregnant with high prolactin?
The normal value for prolactin is 3-20ng / ml. To recover its normal values in case of being high, it is necessary to find out the cause of its rise and find a solution. There are drugs to normalize prolactin values. The treatment recommended by the specialist begins and the search for the desired pregnancy begins. At the moment in which the mother tests positive in the pregnancy test, the treatment should be suspended due to the damage that the fetus could cause. High prolactin is not incompatible with breastfeeding. Treatment can even be resumed in that period, after discussion with the doctor.
The stage of breastfeeding is beautiful and tough. The mother can be overwhelmed especially at the beginning when everything is new and a habit and knowledge must still be created between mother and child. Both must learn from each other and from the process itself. The mother should be supported by her environment but not overwhelmed or questioned. Every mother can breastfeed her child but information and help is always needed. Do not forget that breastfeeding is a demand, there are no schedules for it.