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lactation — breastfeeding, or the secretion of breast milk.

lactiferous sinuses — enlarged portion of the mammary or milk duct where breast milk pools during breastfeeding. The sinuses are behind the areola and connect to the nipple.

lactose — a sugar found in milk and milk products like cheese, cream, and butter.

lamaze — a philosophy of giving birth developed by Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze. The goal of Lamaze classes is to increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth. Lamaze classes teach women simple coping strategies for labor, including focused breathing. But Lamaze also teaches that breathing techniques are just one of the many things that help women in labor. Movement, positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy and the use of heat and cold are some others.

laxative — medicines that will make you have a bowel movement.

lead — a metal that can make infants and young children sick.

lesion — an infected or diseased area of skin.

let-down reflex, or milk-ejection reflex — A conditioned reflex ejecting milk from the alveoli through the ducts to the sinuses of the breast and the nipple.

libido — sexual drive.

local analgesic — An analgesic is a drug that relieves pain. Pain-relieving drugs can be given to a woman during labor and delivery locally through a needle inserted into a muscle (intra-muscular) or under the skin (subcutaneous).

luteal phase defect — problems with the uterine lining that can affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.

luteinizing hormone — a hormone that triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum (empty follicle) to make progesterone.

Lyme disease — a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete" that is transmitted to humans from the bite of a deer tick. It can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints, heart and nervous system.

lymph — the almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease. Lymph tissue in the breast helps remove waste.