What does lactation mean?
Lactation is the physiological process by which the mammary glands produce milk, most commonly during pregnancy and after childbirth. In everyday contexts, it is closely associated with breastfeeding, although the terms are not identical: lactation names the production of milk itself, whereas breastfeeding describes the act of feeding an infant with milk from the breast. The process is influenced by hormones, including prolactin and oxytocin, and by the infant’s feeding patterns. Medical and public-health discussions use the term when addressing milk supply, maternal health, infant feeding, and difficulties that can arise during nursing. Lactation can also refer more broadly to the period during which milk is produced. The word is especially useful for distinguishing the biological process of milk secretion from the broader social and practical practice of breastfeeding.
nounThe secretion of milk from the mammary glands, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can also refer to the period or process of producing and releasing milk.
- The production of milk by the mammary glands.
- The period or physiological process during which milk is produced and released.
"Hormonal changes support lactation after childbirth."
"The clinic provides guidance on breastfeeding and lactation."
"Reduced hormone levels can signal the end of lactation."
Plural form is used when referring to separate processes or periods of milk production.
"The study compared lactations in mothers with and without prior breastfeeding experience."
Lactation is the remarkable biological process that turns pregnancy into a nourishing source of human milk.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lactation come from?
Lactation comes from Latin, where lac relates to milk and derives from the root for milk. The English word developed in the 17th century in medical writing and was formed with the suffix -ation, meaning a process or action. Related English words include lactate, lactose, and lacteal, all of which share the same Latin root associated with milk.
Related word forms
How lactation is actually used
The term is used mainly in medicine, midwifery, and public health. It is more technical than the everyday term breastfeeding but can describe both the physiological process and the period during which it occurs.
Easily confused with lactation
Lactation refers to the production of milk, whereas location refers to a place or position.