I know that pregnancy activates hormones that make the breasts lactate, but when does it stop? I’ve heard weird stories of children being beast fed up until they were 16 so like how do you stop producing milk? Does your body automatically stop making milk after a day or so of no breastfeeding?
Like I know getting pregnant does alter the breasts and make them big but eventually they will come back to normal right?
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Milk production is regulated to meet demand. As babies get older, they begin to eat more solid food, which means they drink less milk. Milk production usually drops when feedings drop. Many people continue to breastfeed after their child begins eating solids, but the amount of milk they produce is reduced. Hormones regulate the process, and there are other factors that influence the hormones. So, for example, sometimes returning to work and spending less time physically holding your baby can also reduce production. In general, most babies are weaned – which means their parents choose to gradually reduce feedings until stopping. This is often an intentional process, so you could choose to continue breastfeeding for years and your body would continue to produce milk until you stop feeding or pumping.
For much of history (and still in many parts of the world), food and water were not always safe and readily available. Breastfeeding babies ensures they have food even on days adults don’t and protects them from foodborne and waterborne illness. For that reason, babies were usually breastfed for years. The global average remains about 4 years.
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