Could low milk supply be related to breast shape?
I was reading a pamphlet on breastfeeding that quoted as its primary reference "The Nursing Mother's Companion" by Kathleen Huggins. It said that some women have breasts that are "hypoplastic", they are long and thin, widely spaced apart and don't produce much milk. Could you tell me more about this condition? Is it very common?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
In very rare instances a woman may be born with insufficient glandular tissue that would not support lactation. Hypoplasia is the incomplete development or underdevelopment of a part of the body.
With this anatomical anomaly, breasts may be small and unusually shaped (cone-shaped or tubular). These breasts are often very widely spaced and seem to be narrow at the chest wall. The absence of tissue accounts for their unusual shape. There may be marked asymmetry (breasts quite different in size).
If breast hypoplasia is suspected, it is very important for your baby to be closely followed. Daily output should be monitored along with weekly weight checks. A baby under five to six weeks of age should be wetting 6 to 8 diapers and having at least 2 to 3 bowel movements each day. Babies normally have regained back to their birth weight by their 2 week check-up, and continue to gain an average of 4 to 8 ounces of weight each week during their first 3 to 4 months of life.
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