A birth of a child is an exciting time. It may also be a time of elevated stress. Some mothers may discover they do not have adequate supplies of breast milk to meet their babies’ daily needs.
Naturopathic medicine can be helpful in these instances: there is much support available through the use of herbs, acupuncture and homeopathy. Tori Hudson provides insight into useful botanicals for increasing milk supply:
One of the problems that can usually be well addressed by herbal medicine is increasing the milk supply. Fennel has the advantage of not only increasing the breast milk, but easing after-pains and settling the digestion of the mother and the newborn, helping both to dispel gas and treat colic. Fenugreek has been a standard among lactation consultants and within herbal folk medicine to not only improve lactation but to promote digestion and stimulate the appetite while also improving the taste of the milk. Nettles and raspberry are nourishing herbs that encourage a greater supply of breast milk and supply a source of trace minerals and vitamins to enrich the milk. Blessed thistle and borage seed oil and flower tops encourage the supply while helping the mother with postpartum moods and settling the nerves. Blessed thistle is a bitter herb useful for liver and digestive problems as well as for increasing the flow and richness of milk. Hops can not only increase milk flow but also help to bring normal sleep for the infant. Oatstraw calms a nursing mother and stimulates milk supply as well as supplying some minerals such as silica, zinc and manganese.[ ]
Scientific validation, as well as a long tradition of using chaste tree as a lactagogue, has lead to the emergence of chaste tree as a leading herb to promote lactation. [ ] Two studies have shown that garlic increases the duration of breast feeding and the amount of milk consumed by their infant. The study compared 1.5 gm of garlic capsules to a placebo in 30 women during breast feeding. The authors suggested that the positive effect was at least in part due to favorably altering the flavor of the breast milk.
Also important for women who are breast-feeding is adequate rest and reduced levels of stress. Elevated stress or fatigue may compromise lactation. As far as possible, especially in the first weeks after birth, sleep when the baby sleeps; avoid taking on too much too soon; breast-feed on demand; and eat a healthy and varied diet.