Breastfeeding with breast hypoplasia

Emily's story

I went along to antenatal classes and was told that women make enough milk for their baby. I wish there was a disclaimer: ‘most women, in the absence of health issues, will make enough’ as I would have researched further.

I expressed colostrum antenatally and put Robin to my breast after birth. He was sleepy and difficult to wake. I tried desperately to wake him, fumbling with his clothes, tickling his feet - we managed. One midwife came later and taught me to feed lying down.

Robin became jaundiced and lost almost ten per cent of his birthweight. I visited my local La Leche League leader who helped me with positioning and attachment. He was finally back to birth weight at four weeks and discharged from midwifery to health visiting, but he was still very sleepy and had bad reflux. At six weeks, due to faltering weight, we were sent to hospital where we were put on a plan of triple feeding and top-ups of formula.

A lactation consultant then identified he was too tired to effectively transfer milk; his latch wasn’t great; he had a high palate; I might have breast hypoplasia; and my health problems impacting my hormones were likely affecting supply. We spoke about galactagogues and other things to help me optimise my supply. Alongside expressed milk, we used donor breastmilk from the Hearts Milk Bank in a supplemental nursing system (SNS). Robin’s wonderful godmother also donated her milk. At four and a half months old Robin’s tongue tie was divided privately. The top-ups continued until he was nine months and moved a centile above his birth weight, then we dropped the top-ups. Now he is two years old, we are still going strong and loving this special bond we have.”