If you suspect you need more breast milk, herbs may increase your milk supply. You may have a low supply if you cannot pump a significant amount of breast milk. If your baby is not gaining weight or producing several wet diapers each day, you may also suspect a low supply. Before turning to herbs, though, try breastfeeding often, getting rest, staying hydrated and reducing your stress levels. Herbs are no less effective or dangerous than medication. As with any new treatment, consult your physician first.
Before Using Herbs
Before taking herbs to increase your breast milk supply, make sure you've exhausted your other resources. Make sure your baby is latching correctly. Breastfeed on demand, because each time you nurse your baby, your body is stimulated to produce more milk. When you breastfeed, switch between breasts during the feeding to encourage more milk production and more milk consumption. Limit the use of pacifiers and bottles, if possible, to encourage your baby to spend more time on the breast, increasing milk production. Massage your breasts, drink a lot of water and consume enough food to provide the energy you need to produce breast milk. Relax, stroke your baby's skin, don't expend your energy on other tasks and lie down while nursing to increase breast milk production.
Reasons to Use Herbs
Some reasons to use herbs to increase your breast milk supply are to stimulate lactation to breastfeed an adopted baby or to produce more milk when you must pump to continue providing breast milk to your baby. Premature babies may not be able to breastfeed initially, and you may want to use herbs and pump your breast milk to keep your milk supply up for when your baby is ready to breastfeed. When you've tried all the other recommendations for increasing your milk supply, herbs might be the logical next step.
Herbs to Increase Milk Supply
Fennel and fenugreek seeds are the two most popular herbs to increase milk production, according to AskDrSears.com. They may be consumed in a tea form and are considered to be safe. Alfalfa, anise, blessed thistle, burdock, chaste berry, goats rue and hops are safe milk-increasing herbs. It is also possible that milk thistle, red raspberry leaf, chamomile and motherwort will also help produce milk. Herbs can be dangerous. As with any new treatment, consult your physician first.
Teas That May Increase Milk Supply
Teas that may your breast milk supply may also have harmful side effects, according to AskDrSears.com. Such teas include comfrey, ginseng, licorice and sassafras. A recipe for a tea combining milk-increasing herbs calls for one part nettle, blessed thistle and fenugreek, two parts fennel and 1/2 part hops. Grind the seeds first, pour boiling water over the mixture and steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Consult your physician before beginning any herbal treatments.
Other Considerations
Milk-increasing herbs have not been studied in clinical research and are recommended based on anecdotal evidence only. This means that historically people have benefited from herbal intervention, but there isn't evidence-based research to back up the claims. Another possibility to consider with herbs and teas is the placebo effect. The act of making and drinking a cup of tea is relaxing and may be just what you need to increase your breast milk supply.
