Patterns of supplementation, nursing behavior, and lactation
A simulation analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2150839 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kathleen M Macqueen (0000-0003-2436-4741, Binghamton University, corresponding author), P W Leslie (0000-0001-9856-4602, Binghamton University) |
| Year | 1984 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 274-291 |
| Publication date | 1984-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Medical Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0145-9740 • E-ISSN: 1545-5882 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01459740.1984.9965909 |
| PMID | 6536857 |
| OpenAlex | W2051439182 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
The use of computer simulation has many advantages for the study of human milk production. The simulation presented here deals with the interactions between infant calorie requirements and mothers' responses to these requirements, measured in terms of milk production. The simulated mother-infant interactions include: 1) the effects of different patterns of the use of breast milk supplements; 2) the effects of varying degrees of responsiveness on the part of the mother to increased infant calorie needs due to growth; 3) the interaction between supplementation patterns and responsiveness, and 4) the effects of varying degrees of reliability in the milk let-down response. In order to assess these interactions 2 hypothetical situations are simulated: a deterministic pattern of supplementation and a stochastic pattern of supplementation. Milk production is also assessed for the effects of stochastic variation in the let-down response, and in the mother's willingness to increase milk production through increased nursing. A major aspect of the model are points where milk production is seen as susceptible to variation in mother-infant interactions; they are noted as stress points. A series of simulation runs were made with formula substitution beginning in the 3rd, 5th, or 7th week. The results indicate a similar pattern of milk production, which increased as supplementation was delayed. The deterministic pattern of supplementation is related only to the 1st stress point in the model, but the stochastic pattern influences all 3. The results of the various simulation runs should be taken as a qualitative indication of the effects on milk production of certain behavioral patterns. The different effects of stochastic and deterministic stress at each of the 3 stress points are discussed and implications derived. The results of the simulation suggest that it is random interference in the breastfeeding relationship, especially radom supplementation at the 1st stress point, that most significantly affects a mother's ability to keep pace with her growing infant. Regular supplementation, i.e., a structured mixed feeding strategy, does not seem detrimental in and of itself, as long as the nonsupplemented feedings are free of interference
Animal science · Biology · Breast milk · Breastfeeding · Calorie · Developmental psychology · Economics · Lactation · Milk production · Physics · Pregnancy · Production (economics · Reliability (semiconductor · Statistics · Biochemistry · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Endocrinology · Infant Health and Development · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology · Pediatrics
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| Highly cited | No |
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