Herbs and Medicine and Breastfeeding

This post came from a presentation I did in the Breastfeeding Mamas group that meets at Carroll Pharmacy in Trussville earlier this week. Several people mentioned they wanted some notes, so I thought I would put my notes up on my blog. I have said it before I am not a lactation specialist, I am a pharmacist. So many things breastfeeding related that I talk about may be just from my experience or information gathered from the reading I do, but this stuff is actually my area of expertise...Medicine and supplements.
*This is not an extensive list, but hopefully includes most of the most common ones.

Helpful Herbs for Increasing Supply

Blessed Thistle: an herb that can stimulate secretion of saliva and gastric juices that can also help increase breast milk (Not to be used during pregnancy*).


Fenugreek: Maybe the most common herbs used to increase milk supply.Can cause maple syrup odor (Not to be used during pregnancy*).

I will mention that you do have to take a lot of Fenugreek. The usual recommended dosage is three capsules three times a day.

*I told the mamas in my group that I thought it was important to mention that some of these herbs should not be used during pregnancy. Just in case there is an eager mom-to-be out there that thinks she may want to get a jump start on her milk supply before the baby gets here. These can cause uterine contractions and can be dangerous to a pregnant mama.

Milk Thistle: Liver protecting seed (interesting fact: sometimes used for mushroom poisoning) and a recent study showed women who took it had a significant increase in milk vs. placebo
Maybe worth a try?

Goat’s Rue: Don't worry...this doesn't come from a goat. It's named this because its milk producing properties were first noted to increase milk in goats. Now days its used by farmers and nursing mothers to increase milk. As if you already didn't feel part of a dairy farm :)

Fennel Seed: Also used in goats and breastfeeding women. Can be used as a digestive aid that can help to soothe a colicky BF baby and ease postpartum discomfort. (Maybe double triple bang for your buck??)
Breastfeeding moms can take the fennel seed themselves and pass the benefit along to your baby. It is also considered safe to give fennel straight to the baby.

Red Raspberry Leaf: very nutritive herb that is high in minerals that are helpful for milk production and strength in postpartum and BF women.

Non-Herbals for Increasing Supply

Even though I don't think these drugs are used too much anymore, and they require a prescription from your OB-GYN, I wanted to include because you may hear about them when researching how to increase supply. There is a girl in our support group that has tried metoclopramide and it was recommended to another girl by a lactation consultant, so you definitely may hear about these.

Metoclopramide (Reglan): intended to treat a variety of stomach issues, but it has a side effect of increasing prolactin level= more milk. If you do any research on this drug you will read about some pretty rare, but scary side effects. Just like any drug, everyone will react differently. If it is something you are considering I would definitely talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the risk vs. benefits. For what its worth, I will say that as a pharmacists and a mom... if it was my last resort to be able to breastfeed my baby I would probably give it a try!

Drugs That Can Cause a Decrease in Supply

Estrogen birth control pills
**Pharmacist Service Announcement: Most of the time when you are breastfeeding and want to go back on a birth control pill, your OBGYN will put you on a progesterone only pill or "mini pill". These are less effective than the traditional "combination" birth control pill, and they need to be taken pretty close to the same time each day (like within a three hour window). Also, if you are using breastfeeding as a method of birth control, it becomes less effective the less you nurse, such as when you introduce solids or have to supplement with formula...

Pseudophedrine and other decongestants

Antihistamines
These last two on the list makes for a very inconvenient cold and flu season.
My recommendation to breastfeeding mamas (including myself) when you find yourself with a head cold that comes with a stuffy or runny nose is don't take anything (probably not what you wanted to hear). You can do saline nose spray or other sinus rinse products. I just don't think it is worth the risk.

What do I take?
I take Fenugreek 500mg three capsules three times a day and a lactation blend that includes everything listed in the helpful herbs section above. I can tell a difference when I don't take them, so I guess they are working :) I don't wanna take any chances, so I am going to keep with it! Can't hurt, right???