Xref: utzoo sci.bio:920 sci.med:4194
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ucla-cs!lanai!flowers
From: flowers@lanai.cs.ucla.edu (Margot Flowers)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.med
Subject: Re: male breastfeeding
Message-ID: <9626@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 21 Feb 88 00:16:34 GMT
References: <1686@brahma.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: flowers@lanai.UUCP (Margot Flowers)
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 33


[Craig Werner claimed that male breastfeeding was impossible because
men don't have ductal tissue].

I've heard of various cases of male lactation:

- It is not uncommon for newborn boys (or girls) to have some milk in
their breasts from the influence of maternal hormones.

- The Merck Manual describes Galactorrhea, "Lactation in MEN [emphasis
added], or in women who are not breast-feeding an infant" (p 1028ff,
15th ed), and describes many causes, some physiologic (such as nipple
stimulation, which stimulates the production of prolactin, in both men
and women), some pathologic (e.g. tumors), and some pharmacologic
(side-effect of drugs).  [:) Maybe they don't cover newborns and
Galactorrhea in the first 3 years of medical school? ;) ]

- In an anthro class years ago, I heard about a culture in Africa where
men routinely breastfeed their children.  The same info was repeated
in a breastfeeding class I went to.  The mechanics are the same as in
adoptive mothers who breastfeed.  Apparently, studies have shown that
in women, milk production is related NOT to breast size, but IS
partially related to amount of stimulation through breastfeeding, and
thus is somewhat self-regulating.  This may explain how milk
production could be initiated and exist in normal adult male breast tissue.  


---
By the way, the Merck Manual is a great source of info for people
interested in reading this group.  It is also a bargain:  The current
edition (15th) is just under 2700 pages (on bible paper) for $21.50.
You'll need a medical dictionary to read it initially but will catch
on fast.