Dr. Amy Evans, a pediatrician and medical director of the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine in Fresno, California, says that as many as 5% of all women have underlying medical conditions that prevent or seriously hinder lactation: hypoplasia, thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances and insufficient glandular tissue, among others.

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?

La Leche League meetings are well attended and everyone has a breast feeding fanatic friend or knows a pushy lactation consultant.

WSJ: One Sure Formula for Controversy

When women have trouble breast-feeding, they're either prodded to try harder by well-meaning lactation consultants or told to give up by doctors.

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?

This leaves breast-feeding problems either to the rare family physicians, or more commonly to lactation consultants who can assist with technical issues -- improving the baby's latch and such -- but can't write prescriptions, check hormone levels or offer a diagnosis.

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?

That's because lactation is probably the only bodily function for which modern medicine has almost no training, protocol or knowledge.

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?