Causes of Low Milk Supply

The following things can cause or contribute to a low milk supply:

• Supplementing. Nursing is a supply & demand process. Milk is produced as your baby nurses, and the amount that he/she removes lets your body know how much milk is required. Every supplement (of formula, juice or water) that your baby recieves means that your body gets the signal to produce that much less milk.
• Over-use of Pacifiers. Can significantly reduce the amount of time your baby spends at the breast, which may lead to reduced milk supply.
• Nipple shields can lead to nipple confusion , decreased milk transfer from breast to baby, Increase nipple pain and/or damage nipple. Baby may develop a preference to taste or texture of the shield. They can also interfere with a proper latch and most of all reduced breast milk supply.
• Nipple confusion. An artificial teat requires a different type of sucking than nursing, and it is easier for your baby to extract milk from an artificial teat. As a result, giving a bottle can either cause your baby to have problems sucking properly at the breast, or can result in baby preferring the constant faster flow of the bottle.
• Offering only one breast per feeding. This is fine if your milk supply is well-established and your baby is gaining weight well. If you're trying to increase your milk supply, let baby finish the first side, then offer the second side.
• Scheduled feedings interfere with the supply & demand cycle of milk production and can lead to a reduced supply, sometimes several months later rather than immediately. Nurse your baby whenever he/she is hungry.
• Cutting short the length of nursings. Stopping a feeding before your baby ends the feeding herself can interfere with the supply-demand cycle. Also, your milk increasesin fat content later into a feeding, which helps baby gain weight and last longer between feedings.
• Hormonal birth control. It's a well-established fact that birth control options containing the synthetic hormone, estrogen, can result in a reduced milk supply, sometimes quite rapidly. While most women can use the progesterone-only contraceptives, caution should be used when choosing this birth control option as well. No hormonal birth control should be started before the 6th-8th week postpartum. This allows the body plenty of time to fully establish a milk supply before any hormones are introduced that could compromise this process.
• Anaemia. Just as with a dysfunctional thyroid, anaemia should be ruled out when a low supply does not respond to measures to increase it or if another cause cannot be found. Mothers with anaemia are also at greater risk for plugged ducts and breast infections.
• A history of hormonal problems. The mother who has difficulty conceiving or carrying a baby to term may experience problems with establishing a full milk supply; although this does not appear true for all mums who fall into this category. Hormonal Problems such as PCOS, uncontrolled diabetes has been linked with Low Milk Supply.
• Low thyroid (hypothyroidism). Some women can develop this condition for the first time during pregnancy and lactation. A test to check the thyroid function is always a good idea when a low supply does not respond to the usual methods for increasing it. Other symptoms of low thyroid include excessive hair loss, dry skin, increased sensitivity to cold, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, depression, and a swelling in the neck area. If a low thyroid is diagnosed, the medication to increase its activity is compatible with breastfeeding.
• Retained Placental Fragments.  If the placenta was not removed intact or if postpartum bleeding occurs for more than 6 weeks, this is a possible hindrance to a healthy milk supply.
• The use of certain medications. All of the following have been associated with lowering milk supply: antihistamines and some decongestants, some weight loss medications or appetite suppressants, very high doses of vitamin B-6, diuretics, etc. There are other medications - both prescription and over-the-counter, that, although they may pose no significant risk to your baby, may adversely affect your milk supply. For this reason, it's always a good idea to check with a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) when beginning a drug you have never taken before.

Have a look at our FAQ section to see which Motherlove More Milk product is best for you.