Breastfeeding is such a gift. At times it can be challenging for some mothers and not at all the natural, easy journey that many make it out to be. Here, I will share some possible reasons for low milk supply and ways to support it.

I know quite a few women who have had to stop breastfeeding due to low milk supply. For some, it can be sensitive topic because of how much they wanted to continue, but could not for various reasons.
Breastfeeding is the way we nourish and bond with our baby. However, there are also many complexities to it.
For example, there are complexities with a baby’s latch. If your baby has a tongue tie, he will most likely struggle with his latch. Or if your nipple is shaped in a way that is not as easy to latch, your baby may have trouble latching easily.
I am thankful that we live in an age where Lactation Consultants and nipple shields exist. However, I think we have also strayed from many ways that make breastfeeding easier.
What I will cover in this post
Possible reasons for low milk supply:
- Stress
- Low or no carbohydrate diet
- Herbs
- Hypothyroidism
- Decongestants/antihistamines
- Pumping instead of breastfeeding
- Pregnancy/menstruation/birth control
- Other possible reasons

Stress
When it comes to stress and breastfeeding, it can be a vicious cycle. Your stress may cause low milk supply, or your low milk supply may cause stress, leading to further low milk supply.
Stress is believed to inhibit the milk-ejection reflex when breastfeeding. This reflex often operates well in women who are relaxed and confident in their ability to breastfeed. However, may be impaired in women who are stressed (study).
While getting sufficient rest is not always possible with a newborn (trust me, I know!), it certainly helps to regulate stress. So, I would encourage you to rest whenever you get a moment, even if it means going to bed as soon as your newborn is asleep.
Low or no carbohydrate diet
Carbohydrates (especially the whole kinds, like root vegetables), contain starch that breaks down into glucose. The glucose then converts into galactose and then into lactose (which provides the sugar in breastmilk). Therefore, carbohydrates are especially important for breastfeeding.
Many mothers who have followed a low carb/no carb diet while breastfeeding, have reported that this has impacted their low milk supply.
I would recommend to sticking to whole carbohydrates rather than processed carbohydrates (like white bread, biscuits or baked goods).
Herbs
While some herbs increase milk production, there are others that reduce milk production.
These herbs are peppermint, parsley, sage, thyme and oregano.
It is more than okay to have small doses of these herbs, like sprinkled thyme on roast or some parsley in a salad. However, large doses of it may decrease milk supply. So just be mindful of this when consuming these herbs.
Hypothyroidism
I would always recommend a woman get her thyroid levels tested soon after birth. Unchecked hypothyroidism can result in a significantly decreased milk supply.
It is often in these cases where I feel sad for women who want to continue breastfeeding and are not aware that the root cause could be hypothyroidism. I would suggest working with a Naturopath or Functional Medicine Doctor if this is your case.
Decongestants/Antihistamines
These medications are created to ‘dry you up’, so it is no surprise that it will likely ‘dry up’ your milk also. Once the medication has been discontinued, supply is likely to return and not all women experience this effect.
Pumping instead of breastfeeding
Pumps are less effective in extracting milk, and hormones such as prolactin (milk production) and oxytocin (milk release) respond better to a stronger suck.
Most mothers who return to work often will see a drop in supply, even if they are pumping the same amount of times they would be breastfeeding.
Pregnancy/Menstruation/Birth control
These all affect a woman’s hormones, which in turn, affects her milk supply.
Some mothers who are pregnant and still breastfeeding will experience a drop in milk supply in the first few weeks of pregnancy or by mid-pregnancy.
Some women will experience low milk supply right before menstruation.
Birth control pills that contain estrogen or combined estrogen and progesterone have been directly linked to low milk supply.
One study showed that the rate of milk volume decrease in women taking these pills was about twice the rate observed in control women (study).
No research has shown a drop in milk supply of women who take progesterone only contraceptives once lactation has been established.
I can’t help but notice the oxymoron of this section: a drop in milk supply when you take birth control pills and a drop in milk supply if you fall pregnant!
Mammary Hypoplasia
Sadly, women with mammary hypoplasia produce little to no milk.
It is a very uncommon condition where the mammary tissue does not develop during adolescence. The size of a woman’s breast does not depend on this condition.
Typical signs of mammary hypoplasia are:
- narrow, widely spaced breasts
- breasts that appear tuberous in shape
- asymmetrical breasts, where one is larger than the other
- areolas that appear swollen or puffy
- breasts that do not grow or change during pregnancy and milk does not ‘come in’ days after birth.
Other possible causes
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Retained placenta
- Severe postpartum hemorrhage
- Certain medications
If you think you may have a low milk supply due to any of the reasons above, then I suggest working with a Naturopath or Functional Medicine Doctor to find out the root cause and to help build back your milk supply.
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