Lactation aids for Breastfeeding, some suggestions

There are certain food supplements as well as prescription medications that may increase your milk supply. Before using any of these, it is important to rule out other problems such as illness in mother or baby. Many herbal supplements have been used for many years to increase milk production, with the most popular being Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, and Red Raspberry. Brewers Yeast (containing B vitamins) is another commonly recommended treatment for low milk supply. I usually recommend that mothers try Fenugreek capsules (2-3 capsules taken 3 times daily) along with Blessed Thistle tablets (same dosage). You many want to add Brewers Yeast tablets (3 tablets taken with meals, 3 times per day) and Red Raspberry tea or capsules several times each day. I know that seems like a lot of capsules to take, but if you don't want to take them all, the Fenugreek seems to be the most effective. Fenugreek is rated GRAS (generally regarded as safe), but when taken in large doses may cause lowered blood sugar, so should be used with caution by diabetics. It is in the same family with peanuts and chickpeas, and may cause an allergic reaction in moms who are allergic to them. It may cause a maple syrup odor in urine and sweat. For the majority of mothers, it causes no problems, and can be very effective. It has not been known to cause any problems for the babies of the mothers who take it.


Medicinally, fennel is widely used as a digestive aid. It also has mild estrogenic properties. Fennel is sometimes used to counteract infant colic, whether consumed by the mother or given directly to the infant. The Wise Woman Herbal suggests that breastfeeding women use the seeds of fennel or any of its close relatives (anise, cumin, caraway, coriander and dill) to improve their milk supply. Although clinical evidence for its efficacy is lacking, fennel seed has enjoyed centuries of use as a galactagogue. Its mechanism of action is unknown.

Fenugreek has been used for centuries to increase the flow of milk, and was used historically as such, along with fennel, by wet nurses in the southern United States in days gone by. There are also reports of fenugreek's use as a galactagogue in Sudan, Egypt, other parts of North Africa, Iraq, and Argentina.
Fenugreek is contraindicated during pregnancy in Western herbalism, as it is a uterine stimulant. This action may be the result of a steroidal saponin called neotigogenin, which is contained in the seeds. Indeed, the effect of fenugreek upon the uterus may be related to its stimulant effect upon the milk ducts in the breast, for both are effected by the hormone oxytocin and its pharmacological relatives.
In North America, fenugreek seeds are commonly brewed as a tea, and the broth and seeds are both consumed. Alternately, they can be ground and taken in capsule form. According to popular lore, an adequate dose has been consumed when one's body smells mapley. The German Commission E monograph recommends a daily dose of 6 grams of the seeds; doses of over 100 grams can cause nausea and an upset stomach.

Barley Water

Barley-water is used medicinally to treat colds, intestinal problems (both constipation and diarrhea) and liver disorders. It was recorded in Greek medicine two thousand years ago as a galactagogue. Taken for a week or two, it often helps mothers with chronic low milk supply. Make a pot in the morning and drink it throughout the day, warming each cup and sweetening it with a natural sweetener as desired.

Barley-water can be made with whole grain or pearl barley. Barley flakes can also be used, though these have been processed and are possibly less potent than the whole or pearled grain.