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One of the biggest
fears of a new mother is that her milk supply will be inadequate
to feed her baby. These fears can cause a mother to wean
early and resort to supplementation in many cases, unnecessarily.
It is important to separate the physiological or true causes
of insufficient milk supply from what is called contributing
factors to an insufficient milk supply.
Fortunately, a very
few number of women have a true low milk supply. These
conditions which cause this are:
1. Congenital insufficient
Glandular tissue, which is very rare.
2. Breast Surgery,
especially breast reduction surgery with the nipple removal and
replacement.
3. Severe post partum
hemorrhage.
4. Anemia
5. Under active thyroid
6. Retained placenta,
an easily assessed and correctable condition.
These conditions vary
in severity and need to be discussed with the mothers health
care provider and or the infants pediatrician to decide how or
if correction can be obtained and then discussed with a lactation
consultant to see how the mother would like to proceed.
Contributing factors
to a low mile production are many and awareness of these by the
mother will greatly improve her chances of breastfeeding success.
According to lactation experts, the leading contributing factor
to low mild production in the early post partum period if mismanagement
of feeding patterns and routines. This can happen when
hospital staff is giving to their patients and breastfeeding
support is either minimal or none. However, this is not
true at all hospitals. This hospital and health care provider
that educates and supports their patient prior to delivery and
after delivery with breastfeeding information that is correct,
consistent, and current will produce high breastfeeding success
rates.
Another contributing
factor to a low milk supply are complementary or supplementary
feedings in addition to colostrum when not medically indicated.
If the feeding is medically indicated, it should be given by
an alternative feeding method as to not contribute to disorganized
sucking. If the feeding is given by bottle, it can lead
to nipple confusion. Infrequent stimulation of the breast,
regardless of its cause, will diminish milk supply. If
the infant is unable to be at the breast , hospital grade double
electric pumping is recommended. If the infant is healthy,
the mother should be assisted with correct latching on and positioning
as soon as possible after delivery. This allows the infant
to learn to attach and suckle correctly.
Other contributing
factors to a low milk supply include separating a healthy mother
and healthy infant, multiple visitors, excessive phone calls,
lack of privacy and rest for the mother. Rooming in should
be encouraged. It allows the infant to be put to breast
whenever the mother and baby wish. Stressing that breastfeeding
newborns should be fed no less than every two to three hours.
As part of a parents commitment to breastfeeding, they will find
that if they limit the number of visitors, phone calls, and allow
the mother the privacy as she is learning to breastfeed her infant,
the successful outcome anticipated will be much more probable/
Bea Kerstein RN
As part of our commitment
to breastfeeding, FNMA provides much written information on breastfeeding
throughout the prenatal period. Along with handouts, books
in our library are also available. Sandy Mauro, CNM is
a certified lactation consultant and is available to assist our
post partum moms with breastfeeding problems and concerns.
Breast pumps are also available.
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