Understanding Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT): A Guide for Low-Supply Moms
Hi everyone! Let’s get into a sensitive but crucial topic: Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT). This term often comes up for moms who struggle with low milk supply, but it’s frequently misunderstood. Let’s break it down together to clarify what it means, how it’s diagnosed, and how it impacts breastfeeding.
What is Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT)?
IGT refers to a lack of sufficient glandular (milk-producing) tissue in the breast, which prevents the ability to produce a full milk supply. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that other potential causes of low supply should be ruled out before arriving at this conclusion.
When IGT is present, it indicates that no amount of stimulation, hormone correction, or other interventions will lead to a full supply. This is because the necessary hardware — the glandular tissue — isn’t there. However, many moms are misdiagnosed with IGT, which can lead to unnecessary emotional distress and missed opportunities for addressing treatable issues.
Glandular Tissue: The Milk Factory
Think of glandular tissue as little “milk-making sacs” that act as both a synthesis factory and a storage reservoir for milk. These sacs develop during puberty, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy. If glandular tissue didn’t form correctly due to hormonal disruptions, the breast may not be able to produce enough milk. However, there’s no definitive test to measure glandular tissue, making the diagnosis tricky.
Misdiagnoses: Is It Really IGT?
Many moms diagnosed with IGT actually have functioning glandular tissue but face other obstacles to milk production, such as:
Thyroid dysfunction
Insulin resistance
Inflammation
Inefficient breastfeeding or pumping practices
These issues can mimic the symptoms of IGT, but they are often treatable. Diagnosing IGT should only happen after exploring and addressing these underlying causes.
The Limitations of Manual and Visual Assessments in Diagnosing IGT
When it comes to diagnosing Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT), manual and visual assessments can provide clues but are far from definitive. These methods are often misunderstood, leading to confusion or misdiagnosis.
Visual Assessments: Indications, Not Confirmation
The visual appearance of the breast can sometimes indicate hormonal disruptions that may have affected glandular development. For instance, characteristics often associated with IGT include:
Wide, flat spacing between the breasts
Tubular or elongated breast shape
Large areolas compared to overall breast size
A hypoplastic (underdeveloped) appearance
While these signs can suggest hormonal disruptions during key developmental periods (like puberty or pregnancy), they cannot confirm whether glandular tissue is present or functioning. A mom with these visual characteristics may still have developed sufficient glandular tissue to produce milk, but other factors like hormones or stimulation might be impeding milk production.
Manual Exams: Misleading Results
Manual breast exams are another tool that can be used to evaluate breast tissue. However, they also have significant limitations. Breast density can mask glandular tissue, making it difficult — or even impossible — to feel whether sufficient glandular tissue is present. Conversely, a dense breast may feel like it has ample tissue when the glandular portion is actually minimal.
This variability underscores the fact that neither manual nor visual assessments can conclusively diagnose IGT. They can serve as starting points for further investigation but should never be the sole basis for determining the cause of low milk supply.
Storage Capacity: A Key Diagnostic Tool
One way to evaluate whether a mom has IGT is by measuring storage capacity — the maximum amount of milk the breast can hold at one time. For example:
If a breast can store 3 ounces or more, it’s unlikely to be IGT. With optimal stimulation and hormone balance, a mom could potentially produce a full milk supply.
If storage capacity is consistently below 3 ounces, IGT remains a possibility.
My Personal Experience with IGT
As a lactation consultant and mom who was initially misdiagnosed with IGT, I know how devastating and confusing this can be. With my first two babies, I was told I had IGT, which shaped how I approached breastfeeding. Later, after discovering underlying thyroid and insulin issues, I realized my low supply was due to treatable conditions. This misdiagnosis delayed my path to understanding my body and my options.
Why Accurate Diagnosis Matters
A proper diagnosis empowers moms to make informed choices. It’s not about pushing one approach over another — it’s about giving moms the full picture. For example:
If you have IGT, you can focus on supplementing without guilt, knowing the limitation is structural.
If the issue is hormonal or related to lifestyle factors, you can decide whether to pursue treatment or adapt your feeding plan.
What to Do if You’re Diagnosed with IGT
Request Full Lab Work: A thorough hormonal panel (including free T3, thyroid antibodies, and insulin resistance tests) can rule out other causes of low supply.
Evaluate Storage Capacity: Use pumping output or weighted feeds to assess your maximum milk production. This won’t confirm the diagnosis but it can disprove it so we can evaluate the other options to help determine if you could meet your goals!
Seek Expert Help: Work with a knowledgeable lactation consultant or healthcare provider who can guide you through this process.
Your Choice, Your Peace
Ultimately, the goal is to give moms the tools they need to make informed decisions that work for their families. Whether you choose to investigate further or prioritize your mental health and move forward with other feeding methods, the choice is yours — and it’s valid.
If you’ve been diagnosed with IGT and want a second opinion or more information, don’t hesitate to reach out. You deserve to understand your body and your unique breastfeeding journey.
Let’s continue supporting each other with empathy and informed choices. Happy pumping, and remember: You’ve got this! 💪
