Know Your Breast || Why can't you get pregnant 6months after delivery while breastfeeding? Why Exclusive Breastfeeding?

Still on the agenda of this month; Breast cancer awareness campaign, let me walk you through what breast is all about, _{I know you know don't mind me}, what it contains and the functions of breast because it is when you know all these things that you will be able to know that the breast is malfunctioning.
In medicine, you will always be told to move from normal to abnormal.

Now, let's get go business....

The Breast

The breast is a milk producing gland (an apocrine gland) that is located at the anterior wall of the pectoral region....simply say the chest wall.

Breast is also called The Mammary Gland because of its major function of milk production.

Breasts are present in both genders (males and females) but during puberty, that of males regresses in most cases to become rudimentary while the female breast undergo proper growth and development because of their functions later in life as mothers...The body is just preparing them for the task ahead, hehe.

Looking at the breast, what you will appreciate seeing are;

• The Nipple: the raised projection on the females breast that is responsible for releasing of milk

• The Areola: the dark coloured area of the breast surrounding the nipple responsible for secreting fluids for lubrication during breastfeeding amongst other functions

• The round circular body of the breast made up of the skin ...

These are called the surface anatomy of the Breast but then, there are more structures inside the breast than the ones Outside, hehe.

INNER STRUCTURES OF THE BREAST

PICTURE CREDIT TO FAMSA

• Fatty Tissues: it's a connective tissue that gives the breast it's morphology (size and shape)

• Milk ducts/lactiferous ducts: transports milk from the lactiferous glands where they are produced to the nipple.

• Milk lobes: responsible for producing milk in nursing women.

• Vascular Components: this includes the Lymph nodes, Veins and Arteries. Responsible for blood circulation.

• The rib cages: where the Breast are attached.

• Cancerous lumps: for cancer affected breasts.

Ever wondered why You don't see women who just gave birth get pregnant for atleast after 6months?

It Is Because Of Lactational Amenorrhea... Heheh, calm down, I'll break it up.

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation in a woman who's of reproductive age.... that is, after puberty.

There are two types of amenorrhea which are;

Primary Amenorrhea: This is when a woman or a lady has never menstruated before.
It is not a problem before 14years but once she is 14years, you need to take the lady to the hospital to be checked to know why because without menstruation which is a pointer that the lady ovulates, the lady in question can never get pregnant naturally except it is through assisted reproductive technologies.

Secondary Amenorrhea: This is when a lady of reproductive age ceases to menstruate but has been menstruating before then.
This is the type that happens during pregnancy.

Lactational amenorrhea simply means failure to menstruate while breastfeeding hence failure to get pregnant (take in)

Why? What causes it? What exactly happens?

Breastfeeding after Childbirth suppresses the ovulation of a lady by the production of a hormone called Prolactin.

The Prolactin messes up with the hormones responsible for ovulation... Inhibition of these hormones makes it impossible for the woman to get pregnant because there is no egg/ova to fertilize....
This is a natural method of family planning the body has instituted.

However, it is not a reliable method of contraception as it depends on many factors... Intensity, frequency of breastfeeding and also the woman's menstrual cycle but is very effective for the first 6months

Why Exclusive Breastfeeding?

Many ladies would say that they are doing exclusive breastfeeding so that their sons and daughters will be very intelligent... **The new Ben Carsons and Aristotles, lol , however we that drank pap ate mashed solid foods as early as 3months aren't doing bad academically too, so don't that tell you it's a lie?

Exclusive breastfeeding is supported however because of the benefits to the baby...

It gives the baby time to get his or her intestines to develop to optimum stage as breast milk is natural and will irritate the immature Intestines minimally.
This helps to prevent constant diarrhoea that might end up having negative impact on the baby's growth.

This is why exclusive breastfeeding is advised and not the intelligence aspects.

What Is Exclusively Breastfeed?

A child is said to have been exclusively breastfed when he or she was given breastmilk only without anything else not even water for 6 completed months.

I guess we will have to stop here, hehe

Hope I didn't bore you🥺

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NOTE: FAMSA means Federation of African Medical Students Association and I am a member of it, that is how I got the permission to use the picture.

Thanks for reading and have a nice day👍

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References:

• https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/breast/anatomy-breast

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8330-breast-anatomy