“My milk is not coming.”
“My breast is too small, I cannot produce enough.”
“The baby is crying, so I must not have enough.”
“My mother said her milk dried up early, so mine will too.”
I hear versions of these statements constantly from mothers in clinic, in my DMs, in comments on my posts. And I want to address this directly, because a lot of what Nigerian mothers believe about low milk supply is simply not accurate. And those beliefs are causing women to stop breastfeeding before it is necessary.
Let’s break this down properly.
True low milk supply — where a mother physically cannot produce enough milk to sustain her baby is actually uncommon. Research estimates it affects somewhere between 1 and 5% of breastfeeding mothers.
What is far more common is perceived low supply — a mother believing she does not have enough milk when she actually does.
This matters because the two situations require completely different responses. Stopping breastfeeding or reaching for formula when supply is actually fine can cause supply to genuinely drop. And then you have created the problem you were afraid of.
Before we talk about supply, let’s establish what adequate feeding actually looks like.
Your baby is likely getting enough milk if:
If these signs are present, your baby is getting enough — regardless of how your breasts feel or how long feeds last.
In the early weeks, your breasts may feel engorged and hard. As your body regulates to your baby’s needs usually by 6 to 8 weeks they will soften and feel less full. This is not a sign that your supply dropped. It is a sign that your body has learned how much milk your baby needs.
Breastfed babies feed often. Newborns may feed every 1.5 to 2 hours sometimes more. This is not because your milk is insufficient. Breast milk is digested more quickly than formula, and frequent feeding is normal newborn behaviour. It also stimulates supply.
Babies cry for many reasons gas, overstimulation, tiredness, needing to be held. A fussy baby is not always a hungry baby.
The pump is not a measure of your supply. Many women with excellent supply cannot pump well. The baby’s suck is far more effective at extracting milk than any pump.
Not all women feel the let-down reflex. Some never do. Not feeling it does not mean it isn’t happening.
These are situations where supply genuinely may be affected:
Step 1: Check the signs above. Is your baby gaining weight? Producing enough wet nappies? If yes your supply is likely fine.
Step 2: Feed more frequently. If supply has dipped, the most effective way to increase it is to put the baby to the breast more often. Offer both breasts at each feed.
Step 3: Check the latch. A good latch means the baby’s mouth covers not just the nipple but a large portion of the areola. The lips should be flanged outward like a fish. If feeding is painful, the latch needs to be corrected. See a breastfeeding counselor or ask your doctor.
Step 4: Avoid introducing formula unless medically necessary. Every formula feed is a missed signal to your body to produce milk.
Step 5: See a doctor or lactation consultant. If your baby is not gaining weight adequately, or you have tried the above and supply remains a concern, get professional support. This is not a failure — it is smart.
I know what some of your mothers and mothers-in-law are saying. The baby needs water. The baby needs pap. The breast milk is not enough.
I want to be clear: the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. No water, no pap, no juice, no other liquid or food just breast milk. Breast milk is 80% water. Your baby does not need additional water, even in hot weather.
Giving pap or water to a breastfeeding newborn takes up space in their stomach that should be filled with breast milk. It reduces how much they feed at the breast, which reduces your supply, which then makes the “not enough milk” concern become real.
I understand this goes against what many families believe and have practiced for generations. But the evidence is clear.
Low milk supply is far less common than we think. Most mothers can produce enough milk for their babies. What undermines supply is usually something fixable infrequent feeding, poor latch, early supplementation.
If you are worried, do not quietly switch to formula and grieve the breastfeeding relationship. Get help first. Get the latch assessed. Feed more frequently. See a doctor.
You may have more milk than you think.
This article is for health education only. It is not a substitute for medical advice or a clinical assessment. If you have concerns about your baby’s weight or feeding, please see your healthcare provider.
— Dr. Chandus | info@doctorchandus.com
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