The question most moms are always asking is “how do I boost my supply”? The answer to that is a galactagogue, or a substance that increases breastmilk. The average mother does not need this, nursing/pumping on demand along with skin to skin is usually enough to get the job done. It is really needed when working moms are trying to keep up with the needs of their baby, or moms of multiples. Another case would be an adoptive mother with induced lactation. In this piece we will go over herbs that have been shown to increase lactation as well as dietary changes. Before using any herb or certain changes in diet consult a doctor or a lactation consultant as every mother/baby are different.
There are herbal methods that can increase milk supply, one of them is the popular herb, fenugreek. Fenugreek is ground down and put into capsules or tea, it is also used for artificial maple syrup flavoring. The lactating mother is instructed to take 2-3 capsules a day, the change in breast milk should be noticeable in 1-3 days. I personally used this and with the help of fenugreek I was able to nurse my twins for 12 months when they weaned themselves. The downfall of fenugreek is that you smell like maple syrup with prolonged use. If you stop using it for 7 days and then start back again (if needed) it usually solves this problem. Some women have reported that it dropped their supply, its really a case to case thing and you will not know until you have tried it. Another popular herb for breastfeeding is blessed thistle. Blessed thistle increases prolactin which makes more milk! For the most success fenugreek and blessed thistle should be taken together, if this is the option you would like to try UpSpring already has it together in a capsule! Otherwise you can purchase both separately.
Another option for boosting breastmilk supply is a dietary option, such as oats, flaxseed and brewers yeast. These methods are not scientifically proven to boost supply, but they are known to help women. We call these “traditional wisdoms”. There are some theories, especially to oats, as to why it helps. Oats are a great source of vitamins, as well as iron, so the boost could help your body make more milk. They are also comforting foods, making you happy and helping you release oxytocin which is also a hormone needed to create breastmilk. A great way to get all of these is a lactation cookie! It’s a sweet little treat, you can snack on them at work or while at home, and it includes all these galactagogues! The biggest issue with oats/cookies would be if you have a gluten allergy or celiac disease.
Rawr Naturals is an amazing company that created a fenugreek free protein powder for lactating women. This is owned and run by a breastfeeding mother, so it was created to hit the exact needs of breastfeeding moms! The powder includes oat flour, flaxseed flour etc. The powders can go into smoothies, oatmeal, lactation cookies..really anything your heart desires! I have had actual clients use this powder and they have seen results when it came to breastfeeding/pumping! Check them out www.getmilkdrunk.com or @getmilkdrunk on Instagram!
Traditional Medicinal is also another company I trust when it comes to boosting breastmilk supply. They are a company that has been around for a long time and one I used to help me while nursing my twins. They make the popular Mother’s Milk Tea, which has fenugreek as an ingredient. Mother’s milk tea has very good results with mothers and nursing..its downfall is that it tastes terrible! You can spice it up different ways, I found that drinking it cold with lemon wasn’t as bad. For the most part you are closing your eyes and trying to get that black licorice taste down. They have other options, fenugreek free, such as their bars. They have oats, dried fruit, chocolate on them which makes them a perfect treat, especially if you’re trying to choke down the tea. They also have smaller sweet treats!
There are a lot of offers out there that promise to “increase breastmilk supply” and in mom forums there are always people claiming that things (like certain colored Gatorade)work for sure, and while it may work for that individual it may not work for everyone. Remember the average mom does not need a boost, this is for the special cases where they need a little boost while pumping. Galactagogues are not magical but they have saved breastfeeding for many women that have needed them, including myself! If you are interested in lactation cookies, please visit my Etsy shop link https://www.etsy.com/shop/BirthwithaVoice and use the code WORKINGMOM20 for $5.00 off of a dozen cookies as a thank you for taking my class!
Questions? Put them on the thread to this post or email them to me birthwithavoice@gmail.com
Our bonus lesson will be Breastfeeding and Solids!
Birth with a Voice 