How common is it to have difficulty breastfeeding?

There has been a fair amount of buzz on the topic of Breast Feeding with PCOS. Many women with PCOS suffer with the initial issues of becoming pregnant. If they can overcome the obstacle of infertility and manage to successfully get pregnant they then have to contend with a much higher incidence of mis-carriage, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy complications. The saga continues when they think they have beaten the odds, conceived, carried to full term, and delivered a healthy baby when they are then faced with lactation issues.  This can be maddening. Knowing some of the most current research and information on PCOS can go a long way in helping to cope with the far reaching symptoms of PCOS including lactation.

Among breastfeeding women only between 2 and 5% experience breast feeding problems related to underproduction of milk. There has been some talk of a relationship between PCOS and underproduction of breast milk.

In a survey taken on two PCOS support sites on the internet, 33% of the surveyed women with PCOS reported a reduced supply of breast milk produced. The other 67% of women in the study reported no issue with supplying and adequate amount of milk to support their baby. Interestingly enough however 1 in 5 of these women did report an over production in milk supply.  As PCOS is marked by a hormone imbalance this seems to make sense.
It is theorized that there are many ways that PCOS can affect lactation. Women with PCOS are typically deficient in progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone responsible for the growth of breast tissue needed for breast feeding..

Aside from progesterone deficiency, women with PCOS often experience an increased level of androgens (or male hormones) this high androgen level can down play the effectiveness of estrogen in a woman’s body. This could negatively affect the breast tissue and its ability to produce an ample supply of milk.

Milk production can also be affected by the ineffectiveness of hormone receptors in a woman with PCOS’s body.  Hormones ramp up during pregnancy in order to be able to properly deliver and nourish a child.  When you have a hormone imbalance it’s not only the amount and levels of hormones that contribute to the imbalance but also the receptors measuring the levels. Your body may have an ample supply of the hormones needed, but the cell receptors that signal the levels may be out of whack. This can also alter your ability to produce an ample supply of breast milk.

                                                                                                       
The hormone estrogen can inhibit the production of breast milk.  If your cell receptors are not functioning optimally, and you have too much estrogen in your system, lactation can be affected.

Surprisingly enough, insulin is a factor in the production of breast milk. It is known that women, who suffer with diabetes, cannot produce enough breast milk.  As PCOS has an undercurrent of insulin resistance (a pre-diabetic state) the same may hold true for some women with PCOS.

While it can be really frustrating dealing with the symptoms and issues of PCOS, it’s important to educate yourself, stay up on the most current research and reach out for support and answers when you need it most. New mothers have a lot to contend with. Post partum can be a difficult time for women. Find out about your local breast feeding resources and support groups. Consider consulting a lactation specialist. The sooner you reach out about your breast feeding issues the better. There are women out there just like you getting help from each other. Find support at some of these resources.