Measuring Low Milk Supply: Methods and Implications for Lactation Research and Clinical Practice.

Area of Science:

• Lactation science
• Reproductive health
• Infant nutrition

Background:

• Low milk supply is a prevalent lactation issue.
• Its multifactorial causes complicate study and management.
• Inconsistent measurement hinders research and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review subjective and objective methods for assessing low milk supply.
• To evaluate the validity, feasibility, and potential harms of each method.
• To synthesize current approaches for improved clinical and research application.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of assessment tools.
• Appraisal of scales, survey items, infant weight trajectories, test-weight procedures, milk expression protocols, biomarkers, and device-based metrics.
• Evaluation of measurement validity, feasibility, and potential harms.

Main Results:

• Current methods for assessing low milk supply are inconsistent and imprecise.
• Tools for maternal perception, infant intake, and milk production quantification have limitations.
• No single method is universally sufficient for accurate assessment.

Conclusions:

• Accurate identification and management of low milk supply require careful consideration of measurement tools.
• Combining self-report with objective measurements is recommended.
• Selecting tools specific to the outcome of interest enhances diagnostic accuracy.