Many nursing mothers experience a reduction in their milk supply at some time or another. While the dwindling of breast milk may be a temporary condition caused by variable factors such as lack of food, drink, or sleep or a change in the baby's nursing routine, for other mothers, the drop in their milk supply can be severe, significantly disrupting their ability to nurse their babies.
A nursing mother who is looking for natural ways to boost her milk production after experiencing a sudden reduction milk flow should first consider her lifestyle. As mentioned above, lack of proper food, drink, or sleep can negatively impact a woman's ability to produce adequate milk. She can add to this an assortment of "hidden hindrances" such as high levels of stress, smoking, drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated drinks, the use of certain medications, and hormonal birth control as described by Certified lactation consultant Becky Flora-Waterman, in her article " Hidden Hinderances to Healthy Milk Supply " on the Breastfeeding Essentials website.
Where these factors are ruled out, a nursing mother has several natural remedies to low milk production:
Increased Breast Stimulation Leads to Increased Milk Production
It is well-known that a mother's body works on a supply-and-demand basis when it comes to producing her milk supply. Put simply, the more the baby nurses (or the more stimulation there is to the breast), the more milk that is produced.
In cases where a mother's milk supply has decreased, she can try to naturally increase production by having the baby suckle intermittently throughout the day (feeding every 1 1/2 to 2 hours) or by using a breast pump for a few minutes in between feedings. Where possible, she should avoid offering the baby bottles or pacifiers.
Calcium Vitamin Deficiency Can Lead to Less Breast Milk
Some women experience both ovulation and menstruation while nursing. Among those women, it is common to experience a significant drop in milk supply that begins around the ovulation that is due to drop in calcium levels.
A simple and effective treatment is to add a calcium/magnesium supplement to the diet at or around ovulation and continue it till the third day of a period. Mothers should look for a combination calcium/magnesium pill. Ideally, the supplement should contain 1500 mg calcium/750 mg magnesium but can be as low as 500 mg calcium/250 mg magnesium to see results.
Natural Herbs Can Boost a Mother's Milk Supply
While some health experts and lactation consultants point out that there are no scientific studies that prove herbal remedies can increase a mother's milk flow, many women have reported seeing significant results with a variety of herbal treatments. The most commonly cited herbal remedies for low milk supply include: Fenugreek, French Lilac (Goat's Rue), Shatavari, Fennel, Blessed Thistle, Red Raspberry, Chamomile, and Alfalfa.
Certain Foods and Beverages Can Improve Milk Supply
According to Hilary Jacobson CH.HU.SI., author of Mother Food for Breastfeeding Mothers (Rosalind Press, 2007), what mothers eat can affect their milk production. Some examples of foods that can increase low milk supply include grains and legumes (specifically oats, barley, millet, rice, chickpeas, beans, and lentils), nuts, brewer's yeast, turmeric, non-alcoholic beer, ginger and ginger-ale.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Susan Brown - Susie Brown is a small business consultant and freelance writer specializing in business and personal finance.
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