Is our level of breastfeeding ability hereditary?

Whitney - posted on 01/16/2010

I breastfed my new little one until 4 months old. After he was 2 months old, he quit gaining weight. In two months he hadn't gained one ounce. He had grown an inch and half though. I wonder, two different things, if my doctor putting me on a antihistimine after an ear infection and two that my breastmilk wasn't fatty enough or I wasn't making enough. Either way, I felt like I had failed my little one. But, my mom informed me that all of us kids did better on formula too. So, I am not sure if it is hereditary or not, but it is not going to stop me trying next time. But, it is not a myth about not having enough milk, it can does happen. I would of loved to keep going, but it just didn't work out for me. I envy those who can.

Dawn - posted on 01/16/2010

ARGHHHH!!! The not enough milk myth again! As long as you don't have a medical condition you can breastfeed. The not enough milk myth usually starts at about 6 weeks when there is a massive growth spurt and your baby keeps feeding. Your boobs act like a restraunt reservation and an all you can eat buffet, they get to know when your baby is hungry and produce milk in response to that but they ALSO produce milk in response to suckling from baby. This means you will *never* not have enough milk. You also loose the engourged feeling in your chesticles at about 6 weeks because they have got use to feeding etc. and this can make a mother panic - it did me! Breastmilk rocks as it not only produces itself in response to need but changes recipe to give your baby exactly what they need in response to the saliva the baby produces.

The ability to bf is not hereditary, or rather it is but it's a product of millions of years of evolution and mother nature getting it exactly spot on!

dxx

Minnie - posted on 01/16/2010

Ummm... not particularly. My mother nursed her babies, as do I, just like billions of mothers have before us. If that's what you mean, then yes, it is hereditary- because we're mammals, and every other human is a mammal.



Only about 1-3 % of women truly cannot produce milk. I suppose that if a mother was in that percent, and whatever caused her to not be able to lactate was due to something genetic then yes, it would be hereditary in her case.



But most 'my grandma couldn't produce milk' cases are cultural, in which the mother's efforts were sabotaged by lack of education, misinformation, and lack of support.



Indications that you are not producing enough milk for baby providing that 1. Latch is correct and 2. You are nursing your baby on-demand: Your baby is dehydrated and he is losing weight.

Mary - posted on 01/16/2010

I have to agree with Carol...if you come from a family where all of the females breastfed, it only follows that you have a greater chance of perservering and succeeding. In that type of familial setting, it is almost ingrained that breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby, as well as having ample role models of success. Your mothers, aunts, and sisters are also all more likely to be more supportive, encouraging, and enabling of your efforts, and will help you get through those more challenging moments. It also probably establish a mindset in you that you not only can, but must succeed, or be perceived as a bit lacking in comparison.



If you come from a family that predominantly bottlefed, the mindset is a bit different. For instance, my MIL did not breastfeed. When she came down to visit after Molly was only 3 days old, and she woke every 2 hours to feed, and my boobs were starting to kill me, she was less than supportive, and told me that she would sleep longer if I gave her a bottle...all 4 of her kids slept through the night from birth! My husband desperately wanted to try this, since we were both exhausted (she was 'sleeping' in our room). It infuriated me, but also made me question my determination to breastfeed. What made me stick with it? Well, my mother and sister both exclusively breastfed, so I knew if THEY could, then, damnit, so could I! And, I knew my mother would be so disappointed if I gave her formula...it made me stick with it, and for that, I will always be glad.

As for supply issues...not sure if it is coincidental, but both my sister and I produced enough to feed triplets. We both returned to work by 4 months, and started pumping by about 3 weeks. I filled our freezer, and had to start keeping bags at my parents'.

At my pinacle, I would pump of over 14 oz in the am AFTER nursing her, and my sister was the same. We have radically different builds...I 'm smaller, a B cup at best prior to pregnancy (a D while nursing). She has always been more pendulous, and was a D/E prior to pregnancy. So , who knows?

Geralyn - posted on 01/16/2010

Nikki, to clarify, I said "many" not "all".... Certainly there are women who are not able to breastfeed for whatever reason.

Johnny - posted on 01/15/2010

Anecdotal coincidence does not prove a hereditary trait. I have not heard of or read any research that has been done in this area of breastfeeding. It is probably most likely that families with breastfeeding knowledge are more likely to nurture women's ability to breastfeed. While families that have not succeeded in the past are unable to provide support, increasing the likelihood that a mother will not have as much chance of continuing to nurse. Milk supply issues can be related to thyroid conditions, tubular breast tissue, breast surgeries, and poor breastfeeding knowledge. But statistically, only 2% of women are believed to have the first 2, which would be the most likely hereditary traits.

Kate - posted on 01/15/2010

my gran didnt breast feed...my mum couldnt..and i didnt have enough milk either..so there must be something to it..

Nikki - posted on 01/15/2010

in reply to April and Geralyn I saw 6 different lactation specialists, doctors, changed my diet , you name it I tried it but no matter what there was NO MILK!!! so just because you see a specialist doesn't mean it will work out the way you had planned, some women just aren't that lucky

Geralyn - posted on 01/15/2010

Unfortunately many moms who think they can't produce enough milk simply did not have the support and advice that they needed.... There are no telltale signs that I am aware of regarding being able to produce enough milk. There are some problems with nipples that many moms do not have that may contribute to problems nursing that are evident even before trying. I do not think that its hereditary either.... And it would be hard to tell because there have been some many other factors affecting breastfeeding from generation to generation.

April - posted on 01/15/2010

In my experience there was no signs of a link. My mom and her sister were both unable to breastfeed, although they both tried. I, however, breastfed my son for 14-1/2 months. I do believe though that had there been lactation consultants and other support systems, that there are now, when I was a baby that my mom may have had better success.

Nikki - posted on 01/15/2010

my mom couldn't breastfeed she was not able to produce enough milk, I faced the same problem, we tried everything! I'm not sure if it's hereditary or just a coincidence?

ASHLEY - posted on 01/15/2010

I don't think so either... I think that the best thing you can do to prevent low supply is to nurse as often as you can (on demand) and get help asap if you have any trouble getting baby to latch. I also think a lot of people forget to mention this but make sure you make yourself a priority too. Make sure you eat at least 1500 calories AT LEAST and stay hydrated water water water! I think at the begining it's easy to be so focused on the baby that you forget about your own needs which can have a negative affect on your milk supply.

Christy - posted on 01/15/2010

no, I think it has to do with the amount a child feeds. IF a baby went through a time of not feeding back then there wasn't the same type of breast pumps, so milk supply wouldn't continue like it should. Milk supply depends on supply and demand. My mom wasn't able to feed me past 6 weeks.Plus, I think some moms try to put their nursing infants on a schedule. You can't do that. They need to nurse whenever they are hungry. I tried that at first with my daughter, listening to my mom's advice. My guess is my mom dried up because she tried to put me on a schedule when I was an infant, too. I feed my son 9 months and so far my daughter 6. I decide to do with my daughter just like I did with my son and let her nurse whenever and let my scheduled life take a backburner. I produce plenty of milk and am more happier that way. If you think your milk supply is low then pump in between feedings or at night once the baby is asleep.