Breastfeeding difficulties

[julz341]

Hello Dr. Heather,

I have PCOS and recently gave birth to a darling little girl (2 weeks ago). My current problem has to do with breastfeeding.

Do you know if having PCOS will cause a decrease in milk production? I am new to this whole experience as it is my first. My doctor hasn't been very helpful. He says I need to relax and it will happen.

A friend suggested trying "Mother's Milk" tea which I will be shopping for this afternoon.

Might you have any tips on other items to try?

Julie
Newbie Mom

[drheather]

Hello Dr. Heather,

I have PCOS and recently gave birth to a darling little girl (2 weeks ago). My current problem has to do with breastfeeding.

Do you know if having PCOS will cause a decrease in milk production? I am new to this whole experience as it is my first. My doctor hasn't been very helpful. He says I need to relax and it will happen.

A friend suggested trying "Mother's Milk" tea which I will be shopping for this afternoon.

Might you have any tips on other items to try?

Julie
Newbie Mom

Dear Julie,

Congratulations on the birth of your little girl and thanks for writing in with your question.

Yes, it is true that some women with PCOS have difficulty with breastfeeding. The mechanism by which this happens is not entirely understood. Below is a link to an interview with Lisa Marasco about her research regarding the link between lactation problems and PCOS.
http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/pcos/articles/childers-chats

There is a lot you can do to increase supply of breast milk, depending on what is the cause of the low supply! There are latching and nursing techniques, herbs (like fenugreek, goat's rue, fennel, blessed thistle, nettles leaf, and more) and medications (like domperidone), and supplemental nursing systems like the LactAid and the SNS which can augment your supply and support your breastfeeding relationship.

I strongly encourage you to look into the following:

First, contact a local Lactation Consultant. There should be one affiliated with the nearest hospital maternity ward.

Also, you can contact a local La Leche League for support and tips at:
http://www.lalecheleague.com/webindex.html

Second, there are some fantastic online resources for support and information for breastfeeding and low milk supply. Here are a few links:

1. Dr. Jack Newman's website-
http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=105

2. www.kellymom.com

3. the Breastfeeding After Reduction website. While this site is geared towards moms who are having low milk supply issues due to prior breast surgery, they are welcoming to women with other low milk supply issues and this is a wonderfully supportive online community. Follow the links to the forum for support, and lurk around for other information about how to increase supply.
www.bfar.org

Julie, the Mother's Milk tea is a great starting point and will have some of the herbs I mentioned above. I have had many women use with this with success.

Please let us know how this works out and what you find helpful so that others can benefit from your experience.