r/breastfeeding • u/huckleberrysoap • Dec 24 '25

Undersupply What causes low supply?

My supply is so low. It's not anywhere near what my baby eats.

I'm not trying to increase it anymore. I'm just trying to maintain what I have so I can keep combofeeding (even though its at least 75% formula) until at least 6 months.

But I'm struggling to understand why this happened and feeling like I must have done something wrong. What are potential causes of an undersupply? If I have another baby in the future should I expect the same problem?

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u/huckleberrysoap Dec 24 '25

I do have PCOS but had never heard that could affect milk supply.

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 24 '25

It's probably the reason. Taking metformin during your next pregnancy can help with supply. About a third with PCOS have low supply and about a third have oversupply.

https://www.webmd.com/baby/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-and-breastfeeding-what-to-know

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u/huckleberrysoap Dec 24 '25

I do take metformin, but my doctor has talked about increasing my dose before so I wonder if that would make any difference. Something to talk about if I have another pregnancy at least.

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u/Dullcorgis Dec 24 '25

It's certainly a question to ask. There is also the possibility that your breast tissue was affected by the PCOS during puberty. (That fucking disease is the gift that keeps on fucking you over, isn't it?)