Which statement best describes how milk production is stimulated?

Which statement best describes how milk production is stimulated?

• A. Milk production is determined by hormones alone.
• B. The sucking of the neonate stimulates the production of milk.
• C. Milk production stops when the infant sucks.
• D. Milk production is random and not influenced by infant feeding.

Answer: (B)

Milk production is driven by the infant’s feeding. When the neonate nurses, signals from the nipple travel to the brain and trigger release of prolactin from the pituitary. Prolactin then acts on the mammary glands to synthesize milk, so continued suckling sustains and increases production. This supply-and-demand mechanism means more nursing leads to more milk being produced. Oxytocin, while important for milk ejection, does not drive production itself. So the best statement is that the act of sucking stimulates milk production, rather than hormones alone, no effect, or random timing.

Milk production is driven by the infant’s feeding. When the neonate nurses, signals from the nipple travel to the brain and trigger release of prolactin from the pituitary. Prolactin then acts on the mammary glands to synthesize milk, so continued suckling sustains and increases production. This supply-and-demand mechanism means more nursing leads to more milk being produced. Oxytocin, while important for milk ejection, does not drive production itself. So the best statement is that the act of sucking stimulates milk production, rather than hormones alone, no effect, or random timing.