If you’ve ever wondered why women can’t make enough breast milk, you’re not alone. As a mom who has now pumped for 4 of her kids, I feel like I have heard it all.
I will never forget the pediatrician appointment with my first born back in 2017 where I felt less than supported on our breastfeeding journey. I was immediately told he was dropping weight too quickly and I needed to supplement with formula. If you have been down this road before with your little one, you know that this can send you in a downward spiral and destroy your breastfeeding relationship entirely.
That spiral is real. You start questioning everything. Is he hungry? Am I broken? Should I just switch to formula? The doubt comes fast and it hits hard.
While there are times supplementation is needed (believe me, I’ve been down this road as well) there are other times proper support is needed more. The problem is most moms never get that support. They get formula samples and dismissal.
So let’s actually talk about what’s going on. Because after four kids and more pumping sessions than I can count, I can tell you the reasons are almost never what people think.
1. Lack of Support Is the Biggest Reason Women Can’t Make Enough Breastmilk
This is a big one that isn’t talked about enough. Pediatricians often receive no training or education on breastfeeding or breastmilk, so there is no wonder their often well meaning advice is the same thing that ruins breastfeeding relationships.
We are talking an average of less than two hours of breastfeeding education in four years of medical school. Less than two hours. And then they are the first person you see when your baby isn’t gaining weight the way the chart says they should.
The knee-jerk answer is always formula. Sometimes that is the right call. But sometimes what a new mom actually needs is a referral to an IBCLC, reassurance that cluster feeding is normal, or someone to check whether her baby has a tongue tie. Those things don’t happen when the provider doesn’t know what to look for. I also feel like I need to add... Babies that are in the 30% for weight and don't fall too far off their curve, are also NORMAL, thankfully as humans we all come in different shapes and sizes. With my second born I finally had a pediatrician that said this and was thankful.
If you leave a doctor’s appointment feeling like breastfeeding is failing, please know that one appointment is not the full picture. Seek out a lactation consultant before you make any decisions. Find a second opinion if your Mom gut tells you to. You deserve more than a two-minute conversation.
2. Misinformation. Women Thinking They Don’t Make Enough But They Actually Do.
Social media can have moms fooled into thinking that the amount of milk they are producing isn’t enough, that their baby isn’t eating enough, or that the amount of milk you have in your freezer won’twork for feeding your baby long term.
Here’s what I mean.
You see someone on Instagram pull forty ounces out of one pumping session and suddenly your eight ounces feels like a failure. But that woman might be an oversupplier. She might be dealing with painful engorgement and recurrent mastitis because her body makes too much. More is not always better.
A freezer stash is also not a requirement. Fed is the goal. If your baby is gaining weight, having wet diapers, and seems satisfied after feeds — you are making enough. Full stop.
The signs that your baby is actually getting enough milk:
-
Six or more wet diapers per day after the first week
-
Steady weight gain after the initial newborn drop
-
Baby seems satisfied and content after most feeds
-
You can hear swallowing during nursing
What is NOT a reliable sign of low supply:
-
Your breasts feel soft (this is normal once supply regulates, usually around 6–12 weeks)
-
You can’t pump much (pumping output is not a direct measure of supply)
-
Baby wants to nurse constantly (cluster feeding is normal, especially during growth spurts)
-
You never feel a strong letdown (some moms never feel it and that’s fine)
Social media does a number on new moms. Please take what you see with a massive grain of salt.
3. Stress Makes It Harder to Achieve a Letdown
Stress is a real, physical barrier to milk production. When your body is in fight-or-flight mode, it is not focused on making milk.
Here is the actual science behind it in plain English. When you nurse or pump, your body releases oxytocin. Oxytocin is what triggers your letdown, the reflex that actually pushes the milk out. But when cortisol (your stress hormone) is high, it blocks that oxytocin response. Your body is in survival mode and survival mode does not prioritize feeding a baby. It prioritizes getting you through whatever threat it thinks you’re facing.
This is why moms who are anxious, exhausted, or going back to work often see a dip in output even when nothing else has changed. It’s not in your head. It’s your nervous system.
Things that can actually help:
-
A warm compress or warm shower before pumping
-
Looking at photos or videos of your baby while pumping
-
A comfort item that smells like your baby
-
A consistent pumping environment that feels calm
-
Deep breathing before you start
You are not doing it wrong. You might just need your nervous system to know it’s safe.
4. Tongue Ties and Poor Latch. IBCLC Help Is Needed.
A bad latch means your baby isn’t transferring milk efficiently. And when milk isn’t being removed, your body makes less of it. Your supply is built on demand and removal. No removal, no signal to make more.
This is one of the most underdiagnosed reasons for low milk supply and it breaks my heart how often it gets missed. A tongue tie (or lip tie) restricts how much your baby can move their tongue or lift their lip, which directly affects their ability to create a deep latch and draw milk out effectively. Some babies compensate well enough that no one notices. Others click, slide off the nipple, fall asleep at the breast after a few minutes, or cause significant pain for mom. All of these are red flags.
The tricky part is that not all tongue ties look the same. Posterior tongue ties especially are easy to miss if your provider isn’t specifically trained to look for them. A pediatrician doing a quick mouth check at a well visit is not the same as an IBCLC doing a full oral assessment.
If any of this sounds familiar:
-
Baby slides off the nipple frequently
-
You have nipple pain beyond the first week or two
-
Baby seems frustrated at the breast
-
Feeds take a very long time or baby tires out quickly
-
You can hear clicking or gulping sounds while nursing
Get an evaluation. An IBCLC who is trained in oral restrictions can make a referral for a revision if one is needed. It changed everything for one of my kids. Completely different experience after.
5. Wrong Flange Size
Unfortunately a lot of IBCLCs are not educated on this and most moms are not even the size of flange that your pump comes with. A flange that is too big or too small can mean your pump isn’tremoving milk effectively. Which tanks your supply over time.
And nobody tells you this. The pump just comes with a 24mm and a 28mm and most people assume one of those must be right. They are often not.
The flange is the funnel-shaped piece that goes over your nipple. When it is the right size, it creates a proper seal and pulls your nipple into the tunnel in a way that effectively mimics a baby’s sucking. When it is the wrong size:
-
Too small: your nipple rubs against the tunnel walls, causes pain, restricts blood flow, and reduces output
-
Too large: too much areola tissue gets pulled in, you lose suction efficiency, and milk isn’t being drawn from the ducts properly
Most women are somewhere between a 13mm and a 21mm. The standard 24mm that comes in most pump kits is the right fit for fewer women than the industry wants you to believe.
How to measure: You want your nipple to move freely in the tunnel with about 1–2mm of space around it. The areola should not be getting sucked in. There are sizing guides online and some IBCLCs specialize in flange fitting specifically. My friend Kristen with BeMyBreastFriend has a nipple ruller I want to link here. It is worth the time to figure this out!
6. Insufficient Glandular Tissue
Some women genuinely do not have enough glandular tissue to produce a full supply. This is a real, medical reason why women can’t make enough breast milk. It is not a personal failure. It is not something you caused. And it does not mean you failed.
Insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) means the breast did not develop enough milk-producing tissue during puberty. It is more common than most people realize and it is wildly underdiagnosed because so many women are just told they “didn’t try hard enough.”
Some signs that may point to IGT:
-
Breasts that are widely spaced, tubular-shaped, or noticeably asymmetrical
-
Little to no breast changes during pregnancy
-
Minimal engorgement or milk coming in after birth
-
Supply that never seems to respond to increased pumping or nursing
If you suspect IGT, please find a provider who actually knows what it is. The CDC’s breastfeeding resources can help point you toward the right kind of support. Some moms with IGT are able to partially breastfeed with supplementation. Some exclusively pump. Some do combination feeding. Some bodies just work differently and no matter what you're a great mom.
7. Not Pumping Enough or Correctly
Your milk supply runs on one simple rule. Supply and demand.
Every time milk is removed from your breast, your body gets a signal: make more. Every time milk sits in there too long, your body gets the opposite signal: make less. That's it. That's the whole system. Your body isn't broken and it isn't sabotaging you. It's just responding to the demand it sees.
Here's where moms get into trouble.
Skipping sessions because life is chaotic.
Stretching the time between pumps because you're exhausted.
Cutting sessions short because ten minutes feels like enough.
Every single one of those tells your body that less milk is needed. And your body listens. It doesn't know the difference between "my baby needs less milk" and "I had a really hard week." The signal is the same.
The other half of this is HOW you pump. If you're just sitting there letting the machine do all the work, you're leaving milk behind. And milk left behind is one more signal to make less. Use your hands. Compress and massage while you pump, and keep going until your breasts feel soft and drained, not just until the timer goes off. The emptier the breast, the faster it refills.
So if your supply is dipping, look at your last few days honestly. How many sessions? How long between them? How empty did you actually get? The answer is usually sitting right there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Low Breastmilk Supply
Why can’t some women make enough breastmilk?
There are several real reasons: lack of proper support, misinformation, stress, tongue ties, the wrong flange size, insufficient glandular tissue, and incorrect pumping technique. It’s rarely as simple as “drink more water.”
How do I know if I actually have low milk supply?
Wet and dirty diapers are the best indicator of whether your baby is getting enough. Six or more wet diapers a day after the first week, steady weight gain, and a content baby after feeds are all good signs. A weighted feed with an IBCLC can give you a clear, objective number.
Can stress really affect my milk supply?
Yes. Stress raises cortisol, which blocks the oxytocin response needed for letdown. Your body can be producing plenty of milk and still struggle to release it when you’re anxious or overwhelmed. A calm environment, photos of your baby, and deep breathing before pumping can genuinely help.
What is a tongue tie and how does it affect milk supply?
A tongue tie restricts the movement of the tongue, which affects how well your baby can latch and transfer milk. Poor transfer means your body gets the signal to make less milk. Symptoms include clicking, sliding off the nipple, prolonged feeds, and nipple pain. An IBCLC trained in oral restrictions is your best resource.
Does flange size really matter that much?
It matters SO much. The wrong flange size means your pump isn’t doing its job. Most moms are not a 24mm (the size most pumps come with). Your nipple should move freely in the tunnel with about 1–2mm of clearance. Getting properly sized is one of the fastest ways to improve output.
What is triple pumping?
Triple pumping combines pumping with hands-on breast compressions and massage in a single session. It increases milk removal per session and signals your body to produce more. The key is staying hands-on throughout the session, not just at the start.
What is insufficient glandular tissue?
Insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) means the breast didn’t develop enough milk-producing tissue. It can cause low supply that doesn’t respond to typical interventions. Signs include widely spaced or tubular-shaped breasts, minimal breast changes in pregnancy, and little engorgement after birth. It is not your fault and it is not a reflection of how hard you tried.