Final answer:
Breast engorgement and leakage may occur when a woman stops breastfeeding abruptly, as her body adjusts to the change in demand. Lactation involves hormonal changes that regulate milk production, and the composition of breast milk changes over time and within single feedings to meet the infant's nutritional requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Breast engorgement commonly occurs during the initial weeks of breastfeeding as the relationship between milk supply and infant demand is being established. Symptoms such as leakage, soreness, and milk engorgement are part of the process until production stabilizes at approximately 1.5 liters per day. If a woman abruptly stops breastfeeding, she may experience breast engorgement and leakage due to the sudden change in demand. The residual milk is usually reabsorbed by the body if breastfeeding is not resumed within approximately one week.
During lactation, the composition of breast milk changes both over time and within single feedings. Initially, milk contains more colostrum, which is high in antibodies and proteins but low in fat. As lactation continues, the milk becomes higher in fat content. During a single feeding, the milk initially is more watery (foremilk) and becomes richer in fat (hindmilk) as the feeding progresses. These changes are naturally designed to meet the nutritional needs of the growing infant.
The process of lactation is intricately linked with hormonal control. After childbirth, with the expulsion of the placenta, the prolactin level remains high, which stimulates milk production. The inhibitory effect of estrogen, progesterone, and other placental hormones on milk synthesis during pregnancy is lifted, allowing lactation to commence.