What is the lactation hormone that promotes milk production?

Prolactin is the hormone primarily responsible for promoting milk production in the mammary glands after childbirth. Produced by the anterior pituitary gland, prolactin's release is stimulated by the presence of the infant, particularly through suckling, which signals the brain to produce more of the hormone. This process is crucial for establishing and maintaining breastfeeding.

In contrast, while oxytocin is important for milk ejection during breastfeeding, it does not play a role in milk production itself. Estrogen and progesterone, on the other hand, contribute to breast development during pregnancy and help prepare the glands for milk production, but it is prolactin that directly stimulates the synthesis of milk post-delivery. Understanding the specific functions of these hormones is essential in comprehending the overall process of lactation and the role they play during and after pregnancy.