I've heard from some lactation consultants that some women with PCOS either have more than enough supply from the get go or have a hard time establishing any supply at all. Has anyone here experienced breastfeeding & PCOS? Did you have any issues breastfeeding? If so, what helped?
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Many women in my family have PCOS. One actually started leaking colostrum only a few weeks into her first pregnancy, so I guess she probably would have had a plentiful supply had the pregnancy gone to term. While I don't have PCOS, I have very low milk supply even with twins. I believe it's due to IGT (insufficient glandular tissue), which is often linked to PCOS. My breasts didn't really grow much at all during pregnancy, so that was my first clue that I'd have trouble. I tried every home remedy and supplement. Power pumping helped increase my supply the most. I think had I had a singleton, I probably could have breastfed the majority of their diet, but twins divided the supply and my time, so they get a lower portion.
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I have pcos. I only produce milk in one boob and not the other. Probably about 2oz per session in the good boob. Not sure if its related to the pcos.
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@MerryC: Yeah I've heard between IGT and hormonal issues it can be a tough situation. I've started leaking colostrum much more frequently out of one of my breasts, it also happens in the other breast but it's not as much or as frequently (I'm 25.5 weeks along). We struggled for 3 years to conceive due to my PCOS and I'm praying that I don't face crazy struggles with breastfeeding because it's something I really would love to experience.
@travelingbrit: That's interesting...do you take anything for your PCOS? I've got colostrum leaking regularly and I've noticed one boob leaks more than the other.
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I have PCOS and I've always had a great supply- sometimes too great! My letdown was so fast that my poor LO couldn't handle it.
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I have PCOS and we're doing fine. I had plenty of colostrum and although I do think i have less milk in my left, we're exclusively breastfeeding and it seems to fill her up - she's 11 weeks old. We had issues latching but that wasn't related to PCOS. If I ever worry about supply I take More Milk Plus and eat oatmeal. There's a good guide on here about increasing supply that Mrs Bee wrote.
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@Running Elley, @travelgirl1: Nice to hear that you ladies haven't had any issues! I was told that the way most women increase supply with PCOS is by eating a low carb/paleo friendly type of diet...well, at least in my case that's what I've been told because I've got some hormonal PCOS issues that become a lot better when I eat a pretty low carb diet...which I think goes against most things I've heard you typically eat to help supply! I'm just crossing my fingers that I'm as lucky as you two!
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@emg86: typically i take metformin but i stopped it during second tri. Now at 6weeks post partum i need to make a doctors appointment to discuss if i should start again.
Not sure if its bf friendly
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I had it. It took my milk like 5 days to come in fully, but once it was in, no big problems. If anything, oversupply.
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I have PCOS. I had oversupply for a long time, I did get really sick, then stressed with family stuff and travelling for a funeral, and my supply tanked (at 8 months) and wouldn't respond to herbs. My supply is back up thanks to motilium (but it isn't available in the US).
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