The early stages of breastfeeding can be tough on moms. The pressure to feed your baby simultaneous to your own recovery can be overwhelming. Many moms get off to a rough start. In the first few days, however, babies need a very small amount of breast milk–colostrum at this point–and moms need not worry too much for as long as the baby continues to soil their diapers.

After about five days, milk as most new moms recognise it begins to come in more regularly. Babies eat frequently during this time, and frequent feeding–no matter how frequent it may seem–can be very normal. Again, it is important to note how many wet or dirty diapers the baby makes. Ideally they make roughly eight dirty diapers a day. If the dirty diapers stop, then it may be time to see a lactation consultant.

Why can’t you make milk?

A lactation consultant can check on the usual reasons moms have a hard time producing milk or have a low supply. Improper latch, where the baby’s mouth is not open wide enough or not enough of the areola is in their mouth then the baby might not be stimulating the breast or sucking properly to encourage the breast to produce milk. 

Another reason often looked into is tongue tie. This is when a baby’s tongue is attached to the bottom of their mouth by a thin strip of tissue known as lingual frenulum is shorter than normal. In terms of breastfeeding, it means that the baby’s tongue cannot move the way it should to suck and stimulate the breast. Fortunately this is fixed by a quick surgical procedure. Your pediatrician or lactation consultant can diagnose tongue tie and proceed with the best course of action.

Trying to establish a breastfeeding schedule too soon can also lead to supply problems. In the first few months, feeding on demand is ideal and will help the milk flow. Later on, when the baby has established his or her own routine, then moms can speak to their doctor or lactation coach to discuss adjusting the schedule so that it works for both mom and baby. This is also ideal for when moms go back to work.

What is IGT?

Insufficient glandular tissue, known as IGT, is a rare condition that is seen in less than 2% of women. In these women, the breasts did not develop the necessary breast tissue–glandular tissue–for breast milk creation. These breasts are characterised by being tubular in shape (narrow and long instead of more rounded), have more than 4cm flat space between the breasts, a very large and bulbous areola, and no observed breast changes (such as tenderness or enlargement) during pregnancy. 

Glandular tissue has no bearing on the size of a woman’s breasts. Breast size is dependent on the amount of fatty tissue in the breast, which means women with large breasts can have IGT and women with small breasts may not have it at all and be able to produce enough or even more milk than their babies need. Before deciding for yourself that you have IGT, it is ideal to see a lactation specialist or your OB-GYN to discuss your concerns.

What you can do

Image courtesy of MommyGear

If you do have IGT and are unable to produce enough breast milk for your child, you can still breastfeed with a supplemental nursing system (SNS). This system involves attaching a small tube to your breast / nippled. The tube is connected to a container with milk. As the baby sucks, they receive the milk, which stimulates your breast while also feeding the baby and making them comfortable and satisfied when breastfeeding. For some women, the SNS can stimulate their breasts enough to increase supply (whether it is enough to fill the baby’s needs is not guaranteed, but it isn’t impossible), and for other women it doesn’t increase supply at all. The most important benefit of the SNS is that it helps mothers and babies form the attachment, feeling of security, and bond that comes with breastfeeding.

It’s important for moms to understand that your worth as a mother is not equal to whether or not you are able to breastfeed. Working hard to provide the best for your child to the best of your and your body’s capabilities makes you the best mother for your child. Working hard on your breastfeeding, even if it results in your needing donor breastmilk doesn’t make you a bad mother. There are so many other aspects to motherhood!

For information on Breastmilk Donations, you can join the Breastmilk Donations group on Viber.