PARTURITION AND LACTATION

• The average duration of human pregnancy is about 9 months called as the gestation period.
• Vigorous contraction of the uterus atthe end of pregnancy causes expulsion/delivery of the fetuscalled as parturition.
• The signals for parturition originate from the fully developed fetus and the placenta which induces mild uterine contraction is called fetal ejection reflex.
• Fetal ejection reflex releases oxytocin hormone from the pituitary gland of mother which acts on the uterine muscle and causes contraction of uterus which in turn stimulates further oxytocin secretion.
• Production of milk at the end of pregnancy by the differentiation of mammary glands is called lactation.
• He milk produced during the first few days of lactation is called colostrum.
• Colostrum contains antibodies necessary to develop resistance against diseases of the new born baby.

fig. parturition