Experts uncover why some mums cannot breastfeed

Breastfeeding is often referred to as the most natural thing in the world, but for some mums this is not the case. No matter how many attempts they make, or how much they want to do it, some mothers just cannot physically breastfeed.

This is something that affects many mothers all over the world, which is why this new research is particularly interesting.

Researchers in the US are claiming to have uncovered why certain women simply cannot breastfeed, and they reckon it all comes back to our DNA. According to the study, which was published this week, it may be a genetic mutation that is responsible for making breastfeeding physically harder for some women.

The mutation in question is found in a protein called ZnT2 and can stop the mammary glands from properly developing. As a result, the mother is unable to produce enough milk to feed her child. As well as creating problems with the feeding process, researchers found that this mutation may also cause the composition of the milk to change so that it contains fewer nutrients, such as zinc and fat.

Commenting on the findings, researcher Dr Shannon Kelleher of Penn State College of Medicine said: “It is believed that ‘breast is best’, but breastfeeding is hard to do. It isn’t instinctive, but is a learned behaviour. We believe that there is biology behind some breastfeeding issues.”