61. How is milk produced in a female's
body?
Female mammals like woman, cow, dog, lioness, camel, etc. produce
milk to feed their young ones. The milk is formed in the mother's
mammary glands and starts to flow as soon as the baby is born. The
mammary glands are controlled and activated by the actions of
various hormones which are produced by the pituitary gland and the
placenta.
The milk producing hormone, prolactin, starbuilding up in the
mother's body during pregnancy.
Once the placenta is removed after child-birth (the placental
hormones prevent milk production), the mammary glands start
producing milk. The pituitary gland produces more prolactin
hormone to produce milk. Another hormone from this cyland causes
the breast muscles to contract, so that the baby can suck the milk
dripping out of the mother's body.
Milk contains water, fat, protein, sugar, vitamins and minerals that
the babies need for growth during the initial few months of their
lives.
