True Low Breast Milk Supply Causes and Fixes

There is a difference between a low breast milk supply and a true low milk supply. In many cases, a low breast milk supply can be increased naturally by making sure your baby is latching on to your breast well, breastfeeding more often, and pumping after or in-between feedings. However, a true low breast milk supply won't necessarily respond to the extra breast stimulation.

If you have a true low milk supply, you may not be able to make enough milk for your baby even after trying all the usual solutions. So, you'll need an evaluation from a doctor or a lactation consultant to find out what's causing the problem.

Causes

Here are some of the reasons for a true low breast milk supply. In many of these situations, once the underlying problem is found and fixed, breast milk production will increase. But, unfortunately, a small percentage of issues cannot be changed or fixed. In those cases, a mother may not be able to make enough breast milk. 

There are many causes of a true low milk supply ranging from emotions to lifestyle choices. They include: 

• Being underweight, extreme weight loss, or obesity
• Breast cancer
• Breast surgery, or any breast procedure that involves an incision near your nipple or areola that can damage the milk ducts
• Certain medications
• Difficult birth and recovery with complications
• Exhaustion 
• Getting pregnant again
• Hypothyroidism
• Illness or infection
• Lactation failure (a rare condition)
• Lifestyle choices, including smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or too much caffeine
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Retained placenta
• Stress
• The return of your period
• Underdeveloped (hypoplastic) breasts

How a True Low Milk Supply Can Affect Your Baby

If you have a true low milk supply, your child can't get the proper nutrition they need to grow healthy and strong. Plus, your newborn can quickly become dehydrated and lose weight.

Bowel movements help to remove bilirubin from your baby's body, so without enough milk to make bowel movements, jaundice may develop.

These situations can be very dangerous for a newborn. So, if you know you're at risk for a true low milk supply before your child is born, discuss it with your doctor while you're still pregnant. If you already have your newborn and suspect there may be an issue with your milk supply, talk to your doctor right away. 

What to Do If You Have a True Low Milk Supply

The most important thing you can do is to see your doctor or lactation consultant for an examination to identify and treat the cause of your low milk supply. You can also try the following: 

• Continue to put your baby to the breast as often as possible.
• Use a breast pump after or between feedings to stimulate your breasts to make more milk.
• Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about galactagogues such as medications or herbs that you can take to boost your milk supply.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced breastfeeding diet full of delicious milk-making foods.
• Drink enough fluids including some soothing nursing teas.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Do not use antihistamines, allergy medications or cold remedies that can dry up your body secretions including your breast milk.
• If you take birth control containing estrogen ask your gynecologist if you can switch to a progesterone-only form of contraception.
• If you need to give your baby a supplement, you can use donor breast milk, any milk that you can pump or an age-appropriate source of alternative nutrition.

Can You Keep Breastfeeding With a True Low Milk Supply?

You don't have to give up the breastfeeding relationship with your child just because you are unable to produce enough breast milk to breastfeed exclusively. You can breastfeed along with supplementation. Any amount of breast milk that you can give to your baby will be beneficial. And, even if you do not produce any milk at all, some children enjoy and benefit from comfort nursing.