Foods That Increase Breast Milk Supply
If you have chosen to breastfeed your child, you are facing occasional struggles. One struggle that can often get in the way of continued breastfeeding is supply issues. We have pulled together some of the best Foods That Increase Breast milk Supply to help you navigate the tough days. Breastfeeding can be a wonderful and healthy choice for both mother and child. If you are able to do so, continue breastfeeding with help from of these great foods.
Stay Hydrated: Nothing will help keep your breastmilk supply up like staying hydrated. Lots of water throughout the day is needed to replenish what your body is using. Not only is your body using more fluids to produce milk, you are working hard and using more energy and fluid to keep your energy levels up for your baby.
Eat Oatmeal: This commonly mentioned food is great overall for your health. While there is no specific hormone in this food that increases lactation, it has been known to help your overall health. Mostly people feel it helps a mother relax and release oxytocin that would increase breastmilk supply. Oatmeal is of course a popular breakfast item, but is also the key ingredient in granola and granola bars. It can be used in smoothies as well for extra easy ways to get the benefits of this popular food used to help increase breastmilk supply.
Spinach: Your milk will be full of all the vitamins and nutrients your child needs. Since you are feeding them, and want to feed them well it is important to get all the nutrients you need to replenish what you have given them. Spinach is a super food that is full of vitamins great for overall health. Use in smoothies, salads, pasta and more to boost your daily vitamin intake.
Apricots: This wonderful fruit most popular dried or in jams, is a great snack to help increase lactation. Containing high levels of hormones involved in lactation, it has become a commonly recommended snack item. This is a great on the go snack, added into salads or as a chutney or relish with your meal.
Not only are these foods ones that increase breastmilk supply, you can look to herbs to help assist in your supply issues. Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle and Red Raspberry Leaf are all highly recommended and great supplements to help boost your supply. As with any vitamin or medication, there are potential for side effects. Always make sure to talk to your physician and your lactation consultant before introducing anything new into your supplement regimen.
Thanks for the tips! I am no longer breast feeding but I will keep these in mind just incase there is a next time.
I used to drink a lot of mother’s milk tea when I breastfed. I found it helped. Being hydrated was key for me.
I wish brewer’s yeast had been mentioned here! It’s not a food, but so easy to add to cookies or anything else. It made a tremendous difference for me, and worked much better than anything else It tried. You’re so right about staying hydrated, though! I was so distracted and tired my first few days as a mother I forgot to eat and drink a ton, which didn’t help jumpstart breastfeeding all that well!
Very interesting information. I will pass it on to people who may need it.
I remember when I was pumping for my youngest son and wanted to increase my supply, I would eat oatmeal. It helped a ton. I never considered apricots or spinach.
I know people swear by lactation cookies, mother’s milk tea, and fenugreek but I didn’t ever try them personally. I actually just used my breast pump and would pump until a few drops were coming out. Then kept pumping an additional 5 min on high speed to trigger another let down. I did this for a few days and it helped me so much.
This is a great post indeed. My sister who is a new mother is complaining about this so I am sharing this with her. Thanks for sharing.
I’m still nursing a toddler. I have used fenugreek and oatmeal to increase my supply when I had my first child. I had no idea that apricots increased your milk. I probably was helping my milk supply along and had no idea because I love apricots and eat them all the time.
good information. I’m actually am working towards getting my LC. The first food i tell patients is to eat rolled oats. breastfeeding is hard work.
Here in the Philippines, moringa is the most recommended food to increase lactation. I think they call it horseradish in the US. 🙂
Yup! Tried all them but didn’t work! I wasn’t able to breastfeed and it made me sad for a while but my son seems ok and lovely. So I’ll just take that.