Carrie writes:

<My other daughter doesn't have breast buds either. I have a strong
feeling the lack of breast buds during breast development may have
something to do with the difficulties I had with lactation. My milk
didn't come in for a long time, I made very little milk and was unable to
maintain breastfeeding past the seventh month. I just didn't make enough
milk. I just thought this information might be of some use to this
community. Thanks for taking the time to read it. >

You are right, Carrie. We need to be more aware of such factors in our
history taking and assessments, including being aware of the stages
described in 1962 by Dr. J.S. Tanner. I hope someone researches and
writes more about sequential breast development in conjunction with later
lactation difficulties. Our enthusiastic words of general reassurance
must not mislead those mothers with special situations into unnecessary
disappointment. Prenatal care givers in particular, need to be more aware
of this when doing initial and subsequent physical exams, and refer when
necessary, to an experienced LC. Every mother is somewhat different.

Thelarche (early development of breast tissue from rudiments laid down in
embryonic and fetal life) begins to take place several years before
menarche (onset of menses) Different girls have these stages at different
times. Perhaps your daughters are just on different time schedules. One
of my daughters felt self conscious at school because she needed a bra to
prevent embarrassment at age 9 and had menarche at 10. Another daughter
felt self conscious because everyone else in her class but her was
wearing a bra at 14 and had menarche at 15. (Hers have not been "tested"
by reproductive events yet, so I can't relate development to lactation
history, but I can relate that everything seemed to have developed
normally so far!)

Thank you for your openness in sharing your thoughts and experiences.
What dedication your breastfeeding experience must have taken! I am sure
you and your daughters gained much benefit.

Jean
************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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