The Impact of Breast Capacity on Milk Production

Did you know that the frequency of milk removal from your breasts/chest should be based on your breast/chest capacity, rather than a set schedule? Breast/chest capacity refers to the amount of milk you can produce before your breasts/chest feel full, and has a huge impact on milk production. You cannot determine if someone has a small, medium, or large milk capacity just by looking at the size of their breasts/chest, as there is more than just milk-producing tissue inside. Each person has a unique capacity, and even each breast/chest can vary slightly.

When your breast/chest reaches full capacity and becomes firm, a protein in your milk called the feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL) activates to reduce milk production. It signals your body to slow down milk production, thereby decreasing your milk supply. FIL is what helps to dry up milk for those who choose not to breastfeed/chest feed. This is why you should not wait until your breasts/chest are completely full before removing milk or feeding your baby. If necessary, you can hand express some milk, use a pump, or try positioning your baby for a latch even if your baby seems too sleepy to feed.

Have you noticed some parents feeling disappointed because they cannot pump as much as other lactating parents? That parent likely has a small breast/chest capacity. It’s not that people with small capacity cannot produce enough milk; they simply need to empty their breasts/chest more frequently to achieve the same results. However, this often means they spend less time at each pumping or feeding session. Conversely, a person with large capacity breasts/chest might pump a large amount of milk, but it takes longer to extract all the milk. The advantage of large capacity is that their babies often receive more milk at each feeding and can go longer between feedings.

Unfortunately, both those with small and large capacity breasts/chest are often advised to pump or feed at the same frequency. This can lead to decreased milk production for those with small capacity and overproduction (oversupply) for those with large capacity. Overproduction can result in breast/chest issues such as blocked ducts, mastitis, or abscesses.

This is why it is crucial to focus on the fullness of your breasts/chest rather than relying on the clock or your baby's demands. Initially, your baby might not request feeding often enough to remove milk frequently. Therefore, until you reach full milk production, which should happen within the first ten days after birth, milk removal should occur at least 12 times within 24 hours. Until you determine the capacity of your breasts/chest, everyone should remove milk this frequently, even if your baby is not demanding it that frequently. Once full milk supply is established, you should then adjust the frequency and duration of feedings or pumping sessions to ensure your body produces the right amount of milk.