Final answer:
Multiparous women are at risk for several lactation complications, specifically mastitis, which is an inflammation of the breast tissue and can involve an infection. Lactation facilitates the production of breast milk, providing infant nutrition and passive immunity, and assists with the mother's postpartum recovery. Mastitis is the correct answer to the student's question about lactation risks for multiparous women.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multiparous women, or those who have been pregnant more than once, are at risk for several lactation complications. One such complication for which they are at risk when lactating is mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue that can involve an infection. It can cause pain, swelling, warm skin, and redness, as well as fever and chills. Lactation complications can occur due to the milk-producing glands and ducts in the breast being overfilled with milk, which can lead to engorgement, bacterial infection, or milk stasis if the milk is not properly or frequently expressed.
Lactation itself is the process by which breast milk is synthesized and secreted from the mammary glands after childbirth, facilitated by hormones such as prolactin for milk production and oxytocin for milk release. It plays a significant role in providing nutrition and passive immunity to the infant and supports the mother's body in returning to its pre-pregnancy state. However, complications in breastfeeding are not uncommon and may require medical attention or the support of a lactation consultant. In contrast, hyperlactation syndrome refers to the excessive production of breast milk, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a complication associated with fertility treatments, not lactation. Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that can occur during the postpartum period and is not exclusive to breastfeeding mothers.