Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT), sometimes called breast hypoplasia, occurs when the milk-making tissue within the mammary gland does not develop properly. This can make producing a full milk supply more challenging, even when breastfeeding is carefully managed. IGT is often related to how the breasts develop during puberty, a period when hormonal changes influence breast growth and the balance between glandular and fatty tissue. In some women, hormonal imbalances, metabolic conditions, or genetic factors can lead to incomplete glandular development. This can result in smaller or less functional milk-producing areas within the breast, which can limit their milk production.

Having IGT does not mean that you cannot breastfeed or provide breast milk for your baby. With the right support and strategies to maximize milk output, many mothers are able to fully—or partially—meet their baby’s nutritional needs throughout the first year.

What is Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT)?

Women with IGT may notice unique physical characteristics, including breast size, breast shape, or other symptoms. Some common indicators of IGT include:

  • Flat or tubular-shaped breasts rather than full, rounded breasts

  • Breast asymmetry or uneven size

  • Wide spacing between the breasts

  • Presence of stretch marks on the breasts despite lack of breast growth and development

  • Lack of breast changes during early pregnancy, such as size, tenderness, or darkening areola

  • Limited or no engorgement in the first week postpartum

  • Persistent insufficient milk supply despite frequent breastfeeding and/or pumping

Noticing these signs does not mean breastfeeding is impossible, but it can help explain why some mothers experience low supply.

Possible Causes IGT

Some potential causes of lactation insufficiency include:

Every mother makes a different amount of milk, and having IGT does not mean lactation failure is inevitable. With the right strategies and support, many mothers with IGT are able to nourish their babies successfully and feel confident in their breastfeeding journey.

How to Support Milk Production with IGT

Even with Insufficient Glandular Tissue, you can take steps to help your body make as much milk as it can while ensuring your baby grows well.

Breastfeed Early and Often

Poor breastfeeding management in the early weeks is the most common reason mothers experience low supply. To avoid this:

  • Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.

  • Respond to your baby’s cues—frequent feeding stimulates milk output.

  • Early and regular removal of colostrum sets the foundation for later production.

Hand Expression & Pumping

The first weeks postpartum are a critical window for establishing milk supply, so frequent stimulation is especially important.

  • Begin hand expressing after feedings, as soon as possible after birth.

  • Supplemental colostrum will help minimize your baby's weight loss and prevent complications that can arise when babies don't get enough milk.

  • Hand expression is the most effective way to remove and collect colostrum in the early days.

  • By Day 2–3 postpartum, pumping after feedings may be more practical than hand expression alone, and can help stimulate your breasts to make more.

  • Continue hand expressing for a few minutes after pumping sessions. This will remove more than pumping alone and will help to better stimulate your milk supply.

Supplement if Needed

  • Sometimes, IGT means that you might need to give your baby extra milk—this doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

  • If supplementation is needed, consider a supplemental nursing system (SNS) to deliver additional expressed or donor milk, or infant formula while your baby is breastfeeding.

  • Supplementing at the breast may provide a more steady flow of milk, so your baby stays actively sucking and swallowing longer.

  • This helps to empty your breasts more completely and provides extra stimulation to help increase supply.

Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

Your body needs extra energy and nutrients to support milk production. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein, healthy fats, and whole grains—and staying well hydrated can help too.

Herbal Supplements & Medication

Some mothers use herbal supplements to help boost low milk production, and in certain cases, medications may be prescribed to increase milk output. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any galactagogues to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your situation.

Work with a Lactation Consultant

A lactation consultant is a great resource when you're dealing with IGT. They can help you with latch, positioning, and other techniques to make breastfeeding easier and more effective. They can also support you in exploring ways to combine breastfeeding and supplementation if needed, in a way that works best for your family.

Additional Factors to Consider

Many women who show the physical markers of mammary hypoplasia or IGT also have a history of corrective breast surgery, particularly breast augmentation. It’s important to note that breast augmentation surgery itself usually does not impact breastfeeding success, especially when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon. Instead, the underlying breast characteristics that led someone to seek surgery—such as wide spacing, asymmetry, or tubular shape—are the factors more closely linked to a higher risk of low supply. In other words, the surgery is not the cause; the insufficient glandular development of the breast is what may influence the amount of milk a mother can make.

You're Doing Your Best

If you have Insufficient Glandular Tissue, it’s important to remember that breastfeeding is a journey that may not look the same for every mother. Your efforts to care for your baby, whether through breastfeeding, pumping, supplementing—or all three!—are something to be incredibly proud of. It’s natural to feel frustrated or disappointed at times, especially if things don’t go as planned. Please know you’re not alone in this—many mothers find encouragement through in-person or virtual low milk supply support groups. So reach out if you need additional support.

Every ounce of breast milk you provide is meaningful. The important thing is that your baby is fed, growing, and loved. You are truly doing your best.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.