A concern that most new moms will feel before starting their breastfeeding journey or through the first stages of it will be whether their baby is getting enough milk, so if you have asked yourself “Is my baby receiving the nutrition they need from breastfeeding?”, you’re not the only one, and it is easy to find relevant information on the topic around milk supply.
While there are some visible signs that you can follow to avoid any worries about your own supply, you may want to still take action to maintain healthy levels of milk in your breasts, turning to specific products. By this point, you have probably already heard about the benefits of foods like lactation cookies or remedies like lactation teas, but do you know what these have in common to boost your supply? The answer is galactagogues.
While galactagogues won’t boost your supply on their own–as the number of times you nurse or pump can affect directly the amount of milk you are able to produce–, a lot of moms find them as a helpful tool to increase their supply.
To help you understand if galactagogues are an option for you, we discuss which substances are considered such, and how to safely add them to your diet.
What are galactagogues
Understanding galactagogues is easier than pronouncing the word itself, we promise. The word “galactagogue” comes from the combination of two Greek terms: “galacta” which stands for milk, and “gogue” which means promoter or bringer.
These can be natural or artificial substances that can be consumed in order to boost milk supply, especially in specific scenarios, which may include:
- Working moms who are trying to increase their pumping output for those times when they are not able to nurse.
- Lactating women, diagnosed with low milk supply, who are trying to complement other supply-boosting efforts.
- Adoptive moms that want to attempt breastfeeding their baby.
Types of galactagogues
Galactagogues may already be present in your meals without you even knowing it, as some of them are ingredients that can be part of a healthy breastfeeding diet.
These substances can be categorized in foods, herbs, and pharmaceutical galactagogues; a lot of them generally considered safe for any breastfeeding mommy, but consider talking with your healthcare provider or lactation before trying them on your own:
Foods
Some vegetables, grains, and nuts fall into the category of galactagogues. These ingredients are all considered lactogenic foods, and are believed to promote a healthy flow of milk:
- Beets, carrots, and yams
- Dark, leafy greens (arugula, kale, spinach, etc.)
- Fennel seed
- Green papaya
- Legumes (chickpeas, beans, lentils, etc.)
- Brewer’s yeast
- Raw nuts (Cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.)
- Sesame seeds
- Barley
- Brown rice
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Oatmeal
Herbs
Although you can include plants and spices as ingredients for your meals, you can find these herbal galactagogues in form of teas, supplements, and tinctures. Some of these lactogenic herbs are:
- Goat’s rue
- Moringa
- Blessed thistle
- Fennel
- Hops
- Milk thistle
- Alfalfa
- Stinging nettle
- Fenugreek
Pharmaceutical
In exceptional cases and as a last resort, your health care provider may prescribe specific medications to strengthen your milk supply. These two are the commonly used medications to help boost milk production:
- Domperidone (Motilium)
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Pharmaceutical galactagogues work by blocking the dopamine receptors on the lactotrophic cells in the pituitary gland to produce prolactin, allowing its levels to rise.
Other drugs like oxytocin nasal sprays, sulpiride, Thorazine, TRH, and human growth hormones may be used to build up a milk supply, but these are not recommended nor commonly used for this purpose.
Safely trying galactagogues
As long as you or your baby are not allergic to any of the substances listed above, galactagogues should be a safe option for you to boost your milk supply; combined with frequent feedings and a good latch, positive results should come.
Keep in mind that just because something is natural, it does not mean it can be taken unsupervised. Herbs are similar to medications, and if you exceed the recommended doses, these can suppose a risk for you or your child, developing unwanted side effects.
Lactation powders, commercial teas, and other supplements you can buy online or at any store generally contain safe doses for any mom willing to try them, but be sure to follow instructions of use as directed on their tags. Some of these might have additives that can cause an allergy or might be counterproductive on some chronic conditions, so we recommend you fully read the tags and consult a professional prior to buying a new product.
Measures to help boost milk supply
Galactagogues can be helpful, but these tools are not a magical solution either, so consider implementing some of these practices that will be useful to improve your milk production:
- Try more frequent feeding or pumping sessions
- Gently squeeze your breasts as you nurse
- Use skin-to-skin contact with your baby as much as possible
- Find better and more comfortable positions
- Avoid tight tops and bras
- Avoid smoking
Remember that just because something works for other mommies, it does not mean that it will necessarily work for you.
Adding galactagogues to your routine is a good measure to boost your milk supply, but there could be medical reasons for a low milk supply that go beyond their boosting potential, so always consult your family doctor and lactation consultant to see what could be the best solution for you.
If you found this article useful, be sure to read more of our content at Breastfeeding 101, and don’t miss any updates, and click on these links to discover more about galactagogues:
Selection and Use of Galactagogues | La Leche International
Increasing Milk Supply – use of Galactagogues | The Breastfeeding Network
What is a Galactagogue? | Breastfeeding Support
Medicinal Plants Used as Galactagogues | IntechOpen
Low Milk Supply | La Leche League USA
Galactogogues – Medications and herbs to increase milk supply | Sarah Oakley Lactation
Galactagogues (substances claimed to increase supply) | Australian Breastfeeding Association
Annie Rueb
