[ **up: [[Lactation]] | [[Infants--Nutrition]]** ] --- # Breast/Chestfeeding - [[Breastfeeding (Chestfeeding)--History]] - [[Dysphoric milk ejection reflex]] --- ## Pheromones [[2025-0321. There might be a 'human mammary pheromone, suggested by the response of human babies to secretions from any lactating mother, not just their own. Babies suck in response to secretions from the areola gland around the nipple.'|There might be a 'human mammary pheromone, suggested by the response of human babies to secretions from any lactating mother, not just their own. Babies suck in response to secretions from the areola gland around the nipple.']][^1] > And in 2009, a study hinted at a possible point of interest. When breastfeeding, the [areolar glands that encircle a mother’s nipple](http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007579%20) swell and secrete an accessory liquid to milk. When placed under the nose of babies, a stereotyped behaviour follows. They open their mouths, stick out their tongue, and start to suck. They try to feed.[^2] > Importantly, secretions taken from unrelated mothers can elicit the same suckling response, eliminating the possibility that the babies were just accustomed to their mother’s distinctive odours.[^3] [^1]: Tristram D. Wyatt, ‘[[Wyatt. ‘Pheromones’, 2017.|Pheromones]]’, *Current Biology*, vol. 27, issue 15 (7 August 2017), p. R743. [^2]: ‘Pheromones are probably not why people find you attractive’, 9 May 2016, *BBC*, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160509-the-tantalising-truth-about-sex-pheromones. [^3]: ‘Pheromones are probably not why people find you attractive’, 9 May 2016, *BBC*, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160509-the-tantalising-truth-about-sex-pheromones.