noun
lactation
lak-TAY-shun/lækˈteɪʃn/
The production and release of milk by mammary glands.
Hormones regulate lactation and help the body produce milk after childbirth.
Etymology
The verb meaning “to suckle” first gave a name to feeding an infant. The meaning later shifted to the bodily process that supplies that feeding: forming and secreting milk.
In context
Oxytocin is responsible for milk let down, while prolactin is essential for milk synthesis, production, and the maintenance of lactation.
More examples
- Dairy cows need extra food during lactation.
- Some medications can interfere with lactation.
- A lactation consultant helps her manage a low milk supply.
Forms
lactation
lactate verb — To produce milk in mammary glands.
Similar words
- milk production
- Describes milk formation, without specifically including its release.