乳房解剖学

妊娠六周时乳房开始变大。刚出生时,乳腺只含有小杆状末端的始基管,在童年时期生长。在青春期,由于脂肪组织形成和乳导管系统扩大,乳房开始变大。但是,在妊娠期,乳房生长和发育最明显。

怀孕期间的乳房变化

在泌乳分化期(肺泡上皮细胞分化成泌乳细胞)前半期,乳房导管(乳腺)开始分化,形成小裂片。乳腺组织的生长和发育大约从妊娠期第三周和第四周开始,某些乳导管分化,形成小裂片。导管末端部分增生促使多个腺泡形成(腺泡含有可分泌乳汁的乳细胞)。

黄体酮、生长激素以及其它激素等都会影响乳腺发育,使小裂片完全分化。在妊娠期后半期泌乳发育期期间出现初乳时分化最明显。此时,乳腺富含可以合成乳成分的分化乳细胞,包括蛋白质、乳糖、酪蛋白、α-乳白蛋白和初乳脂肪酸,但只有大约30 ml/天的少量初乳。此后,妊娠后期小裂片增长和肺泡分泌显著。

在整个妊娠期,泌乳组织的增长都很明显,泌乳组织数量大约是泌乳期乳房脂肪组织的两倍。这些变化通常会引起乳房和乳头增大。但是,不同妇女的乳房增大差别很大,有的基本上没有变化,而有的增大很明显。多数妇女的乳房在妊娠期第 22 周之前增大,但也有些妇女到了妊娠期后期乳房还明显增大。然而,乳房增大和产后一个月母乳喂养能力或泌乳没有任何关系。

断奶后的乳房变化

宝宝断奶后,乳腺重新形成以恢复到孕前状态,为下一次妊娠做好准备。这一过程包括去除泌乳上皮细胞,肺泡上皮凋亡,脂肪细胞产生。 

研究摘要
Breast volume and milk production during extended lactation in women (英语)

Quantitative measurements were made of relative breast volume and milk production from 1 month of lactation until 3 months after weaning, and the storage capacity ...

Kent JC, Mitoulas L, Cox DB, Owens RA, Hartmann PE (1999)

Exp Physiol. 84(2):435-47
Breast growth and the urinary excretion of lactose during human pregnancy and early lactation: endocrine relationships (英语)

Breast volume and morphology of eight subjects were measured before conception and at intervals throughout pregnancy until 1 month of lactation. Breast volume before conception ...

Cox DB1, Kent JC, Casey TM, Owens RA, Hartmann PE (1999)

Exp Physiol. 84(2):421-34
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Cox, D.B. et al. Breast growth and the urinary excretion of lactose during human pregnancy and early lactation: endocrine relationships. Exp.Physiol 84, 421-434 (1999).

Kulski, J.K. and Hartmann, P.E. Changes in human milk composition during the initiation of lactation. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science 59, 101-114 (1981).

Chapman, D.J. et al. Impact of breastpumping on lactogenesis stage II after cesarean delivery: A randomized clinical trial. Pediatrics 107, E94 (2001).

Kent, J.C. et al. Breast volume and milk production during extended lactation in women. Exp Physiol 84, 435-447 (1999).