Breastfeeding is a physiological function, so it can sometimes fail or not work as well as expected. In fact, one of the biggest worries that first-time mothers have is whether they will be able to breastfeed their baby without having to turn to supplements or other alternatives.
Breastfeeding involves a whole process of raising and caring for the newborn in which many factors come into play and, depending on how they combine, make breastfeeding easier or harder. It is at this point that hypogalactia comes in, a term used, by extension, for any circumstance that leads to an insufficient supply of milk to the breastfed baby.
Hypogalactia is low breast milk production by the mammary glands, which does not provide an adequate supply to meet the baby’s nutritional needs. Although, as we said earlier, it is a common worry, the reality is that hypogalactia is less common than people think.
Types of hypogalactia:
- Permanent hypogalactia: due to problems with breast development during puberty or to conditions in the mother, such as thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Temporary hypogalactia: caused by the mother’s physical and hormonal problems when the placenta separates from the uterus. Obesity or an emergency caesarean, for example, are factors that can stop or delay the milk coming in.
- Poor breastfeeding management: caused by factors other than those above, such as not breastfeeding enough, a poor latch by the baby or ineffective sucking.
In addition, there is sometimes false hypogalactia, which leads the mother to stop breastfeeding early because she believes she does not have enough milk to breastfeed her baby.
Causes of hypogalactia:
Sometimes hypogalactia stems from ineffective sucking by the baby. The causes may be problems with the frenulum or orofacial malformations, as you can see in the following infographic:
For her part, the mother can also be, and often is, involved in low milk production. This can often be caused by a hormonal or pathophysiological imbalance that interferes with the work of the mammary glands, for example:
In addition, at an anatomical and structural level, any change to the breast can be behind hypogalactia, such as breast or chest surgery. In these cases, the problems can come from poor transmission of nerve signals through the scar tissue.
Treatment:
When a problem with milk production is suspected, the first step will be to talk to specialists and breastfeeding counsellors. After that, the measures to take will include relactation techniques, such as frequent breast stimulation and maximising sucking. The focus should also be on feeds, complementing them with short, regular expressing sessions.
The last step would be to use galactagogues, or lactation inducers, which increase milk production, always under medical prescription and supervision.
In many cases, hypogalactia is mild and temporary and resolves completely within days or weeks; but sometimes it lasts for the whole time you are breastfeeding. Babies tend to lose interest in feeding and even refuse the breast when it does not fully satisfy their hunger. That is why it is essential that breastfeeding does not leave the baby frustrated by hunger, by paying attention to feeds.
It is important to understand that the breast is much more than food. Breastfeeding is more than producing large amounts of milk; it is attachment, contact, shared intimacy. So, when hypogalactia is severe and breastfeeding is not possible, it is essential to keep up skin-to-skin contact, as well as the emotional bond.
Low milk production is not easily reversed, but with the help of specialists in breastfeeding it can be eased, and you can achieve exclusive breastfeeding in some cases or establish mixed feeding in others.