A Cineradiographic Study of Breast Feeding

Abstract

Cineradiographic films were taken of 41 mothers breast feeding; the mother's nipple and areola were coated with a paste of barium sulphate in lanoline. Our conclusions are:— 1. The nipple is sucked to the back of the baby's mouth and a teat is formed from the mother's breast. 2. When the jaw is raised this teat is compressed between the upper gum and the tip of the tongue resting on the lower gum. The tongue is applied to the lower surface of the teat from before backwards, pressing it against the hard palate: the teat is reduced to approximately half its former width. As the tongue moves towards the posterior edge of the hard palate the teat shortens and becomes thicker. 3. When the jaw is lowered the teat is again sucked to the back of the mouth and restored to its previous size. 4. Each cycle of jaw and tongue movement takes place in approximately 1·5 seconds. The pharyngeal cavity becomes airless and the larynx closed every time the upward movement of the tongue against the teat and hard palate is completed. 5. These movements are analogous to those seen in bottle feeding: they suggest that the contents of the ducts or cisterns of the teat are expressed into the mouth. 6. The influence of suction upon the flow of milk from the teat has not been established. It is considered that suction may be exerted during the phase of compression of the teat as the tongue is simultaneously lowered behind the teat. 7. It is suggested that the teat is formed from the nipple and the adjacent areola and underlying tissues.