Galactagogues – Increasing supply

What is a Galactagogue?

A galactagogue is an herb or supplement that is used to help increase breastmilk production in nursing mothers. Below is a list of some of the more effective and popular ones. There are many teas and supplement pills available that combine some of these ingredients together. Be sure to research each to find what might work best for you.

I have personally tried Fenugreek, Marshmallow root, shatavari as well as some blended supplements that combined several of the herbs mentioned below (not all at the same time).

Fenugreek – Fenugreek will make you smell like maple syrup, and may cause gas in you or your baby. It is probably the most popular  galactagogue. It’s also cheep and easily found. Fenugreek is also used for lowering blood sugar, and is not recommended for use by diabetics. Fenugreek is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions.

Goat’s Rue – Goats Rue is often included with other herbs in Nursing Teas or tincture, and is most often helpful for women who have insufficient glandular tissue.

Fennel – Fennel is often included with other herbs in Nursing Teas, supplements, or tinctures, and is also helpful in soothing upset stomachs. It can also be found as a tea.

Alfalfa –  is often included with other herbs in Nursing Teas or tincture and is high in vitamin K. Alfalfa is a rich source of vitamins E, B1, B6, A, C and K and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and potassium.

Nettle – high in nutrients, a gentle galactagogue

Blessed Thistle – helps with digestion and liver function, a gentle galactagogue

Marshmallow Root – may also help calm stomach issues, a gentle galactagogue

Shatavari – contains natural, plant-based phyto-estrogens and helps balance hormones.

Other foods that may help supply

Oatmeal – this is often reported to help milk production. Use old fashioned oats or steel cut oats. I love Bob’s Red Mill.

Brewers Yeast – this fine powder doesn’t have much flavor, I think it tastes a little like cheese. This is not the same thing as bread yeast. Provides protein and vitamins. You can mix it into smoothies or oatmeal or lactation cookies (yum!). You can also hide it in soups and sauces.

Dark Beers – may also help the mother relax, which can help increase supply

Ovaltine – contains malted milk powder, which may help supply. And it tastes pretty good.

Sports drinks – Patorade/Powerade If nursing and or pumping, you need to stay hydrated. Many women report that drinking a sports drink helps their supply as well.

Nursing Teas

Many popular nursing teas combine some of the most popular galactagogues. They do not taste great, but may help your supply, or the ejection of milk. Compare ingredients to see what might work best for you.

Popular Nursing Teas

Traditional Medicinals – this can be found in most grocery stores.

Nursing Time Tea – this is a loose leaf tea. Ingredients include: fennel seed and anise seed, goat’s rue, blessed thistle, and alfalfa.

Yogi Tea – Nursing Support contains chamomile flower, fennel seed, nettle leaf, anise seed, fenugreek seed and lavender flower.

Nursing Supplements for Increasing Milk Supply

There are many nursing supplements on the market that combine some of the most common galactagogues, and may help you find a blend that works best for your body. Be sure to read ingredients when comparing. Some are pills and some are tinctures. The tinctures do not taste good, but many report they work better. You can take them with a small amount of juice, or chase them with a small amount of juice to help.

Here are 6 Nursing Supplements that can be easily purchased online

Motherlove More Milk Plus – this nursing supplement comes in both pills and tincture. The tincture tastes horrible, but may be more effective. Contains fenugreek seed, blessed thistle herb, nettle herb, fennel seed. The ingredients are listed as a blend, and the individual amounts are not listed.

Motherlove More Milk Special Blend with Goats Rue – also comes in pills or tincture. The Goats Rue may help  increase breast milk for women whose breast size did not increase during pregnancy, or have had previous breast surgeries (insufficient glandular tissue). The ingredients are listed as a blend, and the individual amounts are not listed.

Milkies  Nursing Blend nursing supplement includes fenugreek, fennel seed, and coriander seed. It also includes other nutrients like Vitamin D, B6, B12, and folic acid, which you may or may not need depending on your other vitamin intake.

Mother’s Select This nursing supplement contains Fenugreek Seed, Fennel Seed, Blessed Thistle, and Marshmallow Root. The ingredients are listed as a blend, and the individual amounts are not listed.

Vitanica Lactation Blend nursing supplement contains fennel (100mg), blessed thistle (70 mg), fenugreek (50 mg), goats rue (40 mg), and milk thistle (20 mg), as well as other herbs and supplements. It is an easy to swallow pill form.

Up Spring Milk Flow nursing supplement is an easy to drink berry flavored blend of fenugreek and blessed thistle. There’s also orange flavor and chocolate flavor.

Lactation Cookie Recipe

There are lots of lactation cookie recipes out there. And each one is able to be customized to your taste and preferences.

The key ingredient found in most is brewers yeast. (You can’t taste it at all once they are cooked.)

Most also are oatmeal based. (Reported to increase milk production). Use old fashioned oats, not instant oats. These Bob’s Red Mill Oats are my favorite. I buy 4 bags at a time on Amazon. (I like oatmeal, though.)

You can add chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, nuts, flax meal, peanut butter, or anything else that strikes your fancy!

Here’s my favorite Lactation Cookie recipe – with chocolate chips! Yum! But again, you can change it up by adding any of the ingredients listed above.

1. Mix flax meal with water and let sit.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Cream room temperature butter with sugars.
4. Add in eggs and mix well.
5. Mix in flax meal mix and vanilla.
6. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and brewers yeast, and stir into butter sugar mix.
7. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
8. Scoop dough by desired amount onto cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
9. Let cookies cool for a few minutes, then remove from the cookie sheet.
10. Enjoy!