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Hooray for the Human Breast!
A Look at the Amazing Milk Factory
By Melissa Clark Vickers, IBCLC
In addition to the milk-producing "equipment," the breast is an antibody factory as well. It can begin producing these disease-fighters in response to whatever Mom has been exposed to, thereby protecting her baby from getting sick. And the breast makes antibodies not only to illnesses Mom has been exposed to but also to whatever Baby has been exposed. The simple act of nursing sends complex signals back and forth between breast and Baby to fight these invaders.
The grapelike clusters of alveoli are surrounded by fatty tissue. This tissue supports and protects the alveoli and the other structures of the breast. Interestingly, the main difference between a small breast and a large breast is not the number of alveoli, but the amount of fat. This is why size makes little difference in a woman's ability to produce enough milk for her baby.
The most striking aspect of the breast's outward appearance is the similarity to a target. A darker area called the areola, which darkens further during pregnancy, surrounds the nipple. Perhaps this is nature's way of making the breast an easy target for a newborn to find. Just as breast sze varies from woman to woman, so does the size of the areola. Some women have areolas barely the size of a quarter, while others may have areolas 3 to 4 inches across. Nature loves variety! Scattered around the nipple and areola are little bumps called Montgomery glands. The function of these glands is not completely understood, although they secrete an oil that discourages bacterial growth and keeps the skin lubricated. The oil from the Montgomery glands is chemically very similar to amniotic fluid and may help the newborn find that nipple for which he's looking.
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