lactation

[/lækˈteɪʃən/]
nounfemininepl: lactations
lactação
1. The secretion and discharge of milk from the mammary glands, especially following childbirth
Lactation typically begins within hours after delivery.
A lactação geralmente começa dentro de horas após o parto.
2. The period during which a mother produces milk to feed her infant
She continued lactation for six months after her baby was born.
Ela continuou a lactação por seis meses após o nascimento de seu bebê.
3. In biology, the process of milk production in mammals
Lactation is controlled by hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin.
A lactação é controlada por hormônios como prolactina e ocitocina.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, lactation is a medically important topic with significant cultural discussion around breastfeeding. Brazil has strong public health initiatives promoting lactation, with 'Semana Mundial da Amamentação' (World Breastfeeding Week) being widely observed. The term 'lactação' is primarily used in medical settings, while 'amamentação' is the everyday word used by mothers and families.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
milk productionnursingbreastfeedinggalactogenesis
Antonyms / Antônimos
weaninginvolution

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
lactação
Standard term used in medical and healthcare contexts
Brazil - Informal
amamentação
More commonly used in everyday speech to refer to breastfeeding
Portugal
lactação
Technical medical term, similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal - Informal
amamentação
Common colloquial term for the breastfeeding process

Related Words

breastmammarymilkhormoneprolactinoxytocininfantnursing

Related Idioms & Phrases

lactation consultant - consultor de lactação (professional who helps with breastfeeding)
peak lactation - pico de lactação (the period of maximum milk production)
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