Breastfeeding With Hypoplastic Breasts

Hypoplastic breasts, also called underdeveloped breasts, tubular breasts, or breasts with insufficient glandular tissue, may contain very little breast tissue that can produce breast milk. Hypoplastic breasts can be small, thin, shaped like tubes, or very uneven. They may be spaced far apart, and the areola may appear very large.

Overview

Breast hypoplasia is something that you're born with, and as you grow the breast tissue does not fully develop. You might not even know your breasts are underdeveloped until you become pregnant and have a child. During pregnancy, hypoplastic breasts may not change very much. Then, after the birth of your baby, they may not fill with breast milk.

Is Breastfeeding an Option?

Yes, it is still possible to breastfeed even if you have hypoplastic breasts. Depending on the actual amount of developed breast tissue that you have, you may be able to make enough breast milk for your child, but it could be a challenge.

Hypoplastic breasts can cause a true low milk supply or even full lactation failure.

So, there is a good possibility that you will need to supplement your baby.

It's also possible that one breast is hypoplastic and the other has enough milk-making tissue to produce a sufficient milk supply. If that's the case, you can nurse your baby from just one side, and that would be perfectly fine. But, even if you aren't able to make enough breast milk for your baby, you can still breastfeed.

Any amount of breast milk that you give to your child will be beneficial. The time spent at your breast also provides your baby with comfort, security, and that special bond created through breastfeeding.

Tips 

If you have underdeveloped breasts and want to breastfeed, here are some tips to help make it more successful. 

1. Make sure that your baby is positioned correctly at your breast and latching on well.
2. Breastfeed your baby very often. The more you put your newborn to the breast, the more you can try to stimulate the production of breast milk, if possible.
3. Have your baby's weight monitored by a pediatrician.
4. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about using breastfeeding herbs or medications that may help you to make more breast milk. Goat's Rue may be a good choice since it's believed to help build up the breast tissue as well as increase the supply of breast milk. 
5. Try switch nursing.
6. If you have to give your baby a supplement, know that it's OK.
7. You can try a nursing supplementer device which allows you to provide your child with additional nutrition as she breastfeeds. 
8. Pumping can help you to make more breast milk. If you use a breast pump after each feeding it can further stimulate your breasts. You can then use any breast milk that you pump as a supplement.
9. Eat a healthy well-balanced diet with enough calories to support the production of breast milk, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough rest.
10. Join a local breastfeeding group for assistance and support.

Breast Augmentation

Some women with hypoplastic breasts decide to have breast augmentation. If you've had breast surgery, be sure to tell your doctor.

If you haven't had breast surgery but you're considering it, and you think you may want to breastfeed, it's better to hold off until you have completed your family and weaned your last child before going forward. Breast surgery could further interfere with your ability to make breast milk.