Lactation is the process by which the mammary glands produce and secrete milk to nourish offspring. In humans and other mammals it begins around the time of birth, driven by hormonal changes, and milk is released in response to suckling. Breast milk supplies the nutrients, antibodies, and bioactive components needed…
Lactation is the process by which the mammary glands produce and secrete milk to nourish offspring. In humans and other mammals it begins around the time of birth, driven by hormonal changes, and milk is released in response to suckling. Breast milk supplies the nutrients, antibodies, and bioactive components needed for an infant's growth, immune development, and overall health, and lactation also plays a role in maternal physiology after pregnancy. The composition of milk changes over the course of lactation to match the developing needs of the infant. Research in this subject area examines the biology and practice of lactation and breastfeeding. Studies have analyzed the composition of breast milk and efforts to raise awareness of it, the safety of maternal nutrition and supplementation during pregnancy and lactation, the expression and adequacy of milk supply, and beliefs and behaviors surrounding exclusive breastfeeding in different populations. Together this work spans the nutritional, physiological, and behavioral dimensions of lactation. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to lactation and its role in infant nutrition and maternal health.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 114 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Lactation, linking to each citing work.