Placenta and Breastfeeding

The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It provides oxygen and nutrients to the foetus and re

moves wastes products that the baby cannot eliminate yet. The placenta is attached to the uterine wall and it is connected to the baby by the cord.

To make it easy, we can imagine the placenta as a filter in between maternal blood and foetal blood. It allows some components to go through the filter and blocks other components. Placenta "feeds" and protects the foetus during the pregnancy.

The placenta has an endocrine function, which means it produces several hormones.

Three of them promote mammary growth and glandular maturity during pregnancy.

- The Human Placental Lactogen (HPL),