Rarely, there may be reduced or no milk production because of a medical condition. This occurs in less than five per cent of mothers.
Hypoplasia or IGT. Hypoplasia of the breast, also known as insufficient glandular tissue or IGT, occurs when the mammary tissue and glands don't develop normally. Women with this rare condition often have breasts that don't produce enough milk to nurse exclusively.
If you're not yet able to express enough breast milk for your baby, you'll need to supplement her with donor milk or formula, under the guidance of a medical professional. A supplemental nursing system (SNS) can be a satisfying way for her to get all the milk she needs at the breast.
Although estimates suggest that only about five to 10 percent of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed, many more say that they're either not making enough or there's something nutritionally lacking with their milk that keeps the baby from thriving.
Frequently cited problems with breastfeeding include sore nipples, engorged breasts, mastitis, leaking milk, pain, and failure to latch on by the infant. Women who encounter these problems early on are less likely to continue to breastfeed unless they get professional assistance.
Some women also experience engorgement or cluster feeding. Poor attachment, "not enough breastmilk for the child", and an unsettled baby were the top reasons for ceasing to breastfeed cited in the Australian national infant feeding survey (by parents who stopped breastfeeding entirely before 6 months).
In addition to demographics, culture, family, and maternal confidence in the ability to breastfeed have been shown to influence maternal decision making.
A 2013 report named several reasons for the discrepancy, including unsupportive cultural norms, the misconception that formula feeding is better for baby, lack of partner support, and the absence of maternity leave or other work conditions that make breastfeeding possible.
Not being able to produce a full milk supply for your baby can be a stressful and upsetting experience for many mothers. While most mothers can make plenty of milk for their baby (or babies), the evidence for the commonly stated 1-5% of women not being able to produce a full supply is very weak.
While about 80% of babies are now breastfed at birth, by three months less than 20% are exclusively breastfed. The official recommendation is that babies are exclusively breastfed – having no infant formula or solid food at all – for six months, but in reality only 1% of babies are exclusively breastfed by this point.
Common breastfeeding challenges include: Sore nipples. Many moms say that their nipples feel tender when they first start breastfeeding. Low milk supply.
The majority of Australian women (96%) initiate breastfeeding [11] however rates of exclusive breastfeeding dramatically decline in the following months with only 39% of infants being exclusively breastfed by aged three months [1, 2, 11, 12].
Signs Milk Is Coming In
Breast engorgement, or the feeling of fullness, heaviness, and/or firmness. Swelling of the breasts. Breast milk leakage, particularly overnight. Flattened nipples and/or skin tightening or firmness around the areolas.
The average mom exclusively breastfeeds for the baby's first 6 months and then gradually introduces other food while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or longer. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months after birth.