Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, or lactation, is the physiological process by which an infant is fed milk produced by the maternal mammary glands, and it is the biologically normative mode of early infant nutrition. Milk synthesis and ejection are governed by the endocrine reflexes of prolactin and oxytocin, stimulated by infant suc…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 89× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2381-862X

Overview

Breastfeeding, or lactation, is the physiological process by which an infant is fed milk produced by the maternal mammary glands, and it is the biologically normative mode of early infant nutrition. Milk synthesis and ejection are governed by the endocrine reflexes of prolactin and oxytocin, stimulated by infant suckling, and human milk supplies a dynamically changing composition of macronutrients, immunoglobulins, enzymes, hormones, and bioactive factors that support growth, immune defense, and gut and neurological development. Exclusive breastfeeding in early infancy is associated with protection against infection and with benefits for both infant and maternal health, and its initiation and continuation are shaped by maternal physiology, knowledge, beliefs, social support, and health-system practices. The peer-reviewed research in this area reflects these dimensions, examining determinants of exclusive breastfeeding and beliefs about it across diverse populations, programs to promote perceived milk adequacy and maternal milk expression, the influence of religion and cultural practice on lactating mothers' infant-feeding behavior, the composition of breast milk and awareness of it, and physiological factors such as melatonin in milk and perinatal nutrition. As a subject within women's and infant reproductive and perinatal health, breastfeeding integrates lactation physiology, nutrition, immunology, and the behavioral and social determinants that influence feeding practice and outcomes.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 89 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Nov 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Breastfeeding, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Journal of Women's Reproductive Health (ISSN 2381-862X).

Journal editorial board
Qiuqin Tang · China Akmal El-Mazny · Egypt Anup Pradhan · India

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.