Fears about milk supply are one of the primary reasons that women stop breastfeeding. The good news is that the majority of women are able to produce enough breast milk for their baby. True low milk supply is typically caused by insufficient glandular tissue (IGT), some metabolic conditions, retained placenta, postpartum haemorrhage, surgical inventions or from illness. The introduction of a bottle (without replacing those feeds with a pumping session) and issues with baby attaching to the breast and not draining it properly can lead to a temporary drop in supply.
This can be rectified with support from a lactation consultant to uncover the primary cause. Low milk supply may present itself as a baby nursing all day, not swallowing or very few swallows heard, not settling between feeds, poor output, sunken fontanelles, generally cranky and poor or static weight gains.
