Factors Affecting Milk Production – They’re Not What You Think
You might have heard from your clinician or lactation consultant that it’s pretty rare to have an inadequate milk supply. Even if you are a mom who doesn’t respond well to the breast pump, this does not mean that your body isn’t producing enough breast milk for your baby. Sometimes, though, there are factors affecting your milk production. What are they and how do they occur?
First, it is always important to note that if your baby has an adequate amount of wet and dirty diapers. He or she is likely getting enough breast milk from you. The pattern of diapers changes from the early weeks on. Once your milk comes in, it is typical to expect 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours.
It’s important to monitor the number of wet diapers and stool diapers to help you determine how your baby is feeding.
Stool patterns are different and vary widely in each baby. If your baby is adequately wetting and soiling diapers, chances are that he or she is getting enough milk from you. With that said, there are circumstances where milk supply is low in a nursing mom.
There are many factors affecting your milk production.
Factors Affecting Milk Production
Your placenta plays a key role in your milk supply
Your birth experience can dictate this. When you deliver the placenta, your progesterone levels plummet, which triggers prolactin to begin lactation. If you have retained pieces of the placenta, however, your progesterone levels remain higher. This suppresses prolactin. When a mother experiences a hemorrhage either during or after the birth of her child, her blood pressure can decrease low enough to where the blood does not circulate to her pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes hormones that are key in the production of milk, which can affect your supply.
Breast growth in pregnancy is also thought to play a role in milk production. According to Motherlove, “the changes in breast size that women experience during pregnancy are most closely related to the concentration of human placental lactogen, which is produced only by the placenta and therefore only during pregnancy.”
During pregnancy you should pay close attention to how your breast feel, look and grow.
What, exactly, does this mean? It is thought that if your breasts don’t grow as much during pregnancy, this can be associated with breast hypoplasia, which can cause a lower milk supply.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is another condition that can sometimes cause issues with milk production. This is due to endocrine mechanisms that pertain to breast development, as well as estrogen and progesterone levels. Just because you have PCOS does not mean that you will necessarily have a low milk supply. Speak with your lactation consultant if you have any concerns.
How To Know If You’re Producing Adequate Milk Supply?
Though these factors affect milk production, they aren’t very common. What is the number one common cause of low milk supply? You might be surprised to hear that it’s actually the nuts and bolts of breastfeeding, such as an improper latch or inadequate stimulation of the breast. If a mother isn’t feeding often enough, this can result in less breast stimulation. This may signal the body to produce less milk over time. There are guidelines for each stage of development regarding how often a baby should eat and sleep, but they are only guidelines.
Every baby is different, and your infant’s feeding schedule will likely look different from a friend’s.
If you’re concerned about your milk supply, remember to first look at your baby’s diaper count and make sure that it’s within the normal range for his or her age. This is a great indicator of whether he or she is getting an adequate amount of milk from you. If you don’t feel as though your baby is wetting enough diapers, contact your pediatrician to troubleshoot. It is always a good idea to contact a lactation consultant to get some 1:1 assessment of latch and to discuss how often and for how long your baby should be nursing. Remember that although supply issues can and do arise from factors outside of your control, it is rare for a nursing mom not to make enough milk for her baby. Always contact your pediatrician and a lactation consultant with any questions or concerns.
Did you have a low milk supply detected by a Lactation Consultant? Were there any options or alternatives that they offered to help with this? Or did you think you had a low milk supply but was able to overcome with some help?
