Milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, is a plant that derives its common name from the milky fluid released by its leaves when crushed. Potential uses for the plant include treatment of mushroom poisoning and protection from liver damage caused by hepatitis or excessive doses of acetaminophen. It does not have a role in increasing breast milk supply.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle gains its therapeutic effects from an active ingredient called silymarin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In turn, silymarin is composed from three separate compounds---silidianin, silicristin and silibinin---which belong to a class of substances called flavonoids. Silymarin contains significant amounts of substances called antioxidants, which protect cells in your body from the effects of potentially harmful particles called free radicals. It also has significant anti-inflammatory properties.
Understanding Milk Production
The onset of milk production in your breasts is controlled by a number of hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, placental lactogen and pituitary prolactin, according to the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus. The influence of these hormones stimulates the development of specialized milk-producing glands in the middle trimester of your pregnancy. Once your child is born, his suckling of your breasts triggers the release of prolactin and the additional hormone oxytocin. Prolactin fosters actual milk production, while oxytocin encourages the release of that milk from your glands.
Milk Supply Concerns
All nursing women have some degree of concern about their level of milk production, the Ohio State University Medical Center explains. Typically, you are producing enough milk if your child wets five or more diapers per day by his fourth or fifth day of life, sleeps for three hours and does not wake up extremely hungry, has three or four bowel movements a day after a few weeks of life and gains anywhere from 4 to 7 oz. of body weight during each week of his first three months.
Increasing Milk Supply
If you're not producing enough breast milk, you can increase your supply in a number of ways, Ohio State reports. Examples here include eating healthy and drinking plenty of fluids, nursing your child eight to 12 times a day, using a breast pump between or after feedings and avoiding using pacifiers during your child's first two or three weeks of life. You can also ensure proper feeding of your child by letting him feed until he naturally releases your breast, as well as letting him determine how frequently and how long he eats.
Limiting Factors
Breastfeeding.com notes a number of factors that can artificially limit your milk production, including sleeping on your stomach and compressing your breasts, smoking, wearing a bra that fits too tightly and taking allergy medications. Supplementing your milk supply with formula can also encourage a decrease in milk production. Additionally, your breasts can lose their sensitivity to the effects of a breast pump over time. You may be able to overcome this insensitivity by massaging your breasts before pumping or repositioning a pump on your breasts. Consult your doctor for additional information.
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