-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
reproductive system
Lactation: excess/deficiency
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Breast milk contains most of the nutrients that a growing baby needs. It also contains powerful antibodies that help the nursing infant fight infection and allergies.
Hormonal secretions during pregnancy stimulate the production of milk in the breasts. Nursing further stimulates milk production and ejection. The more the baby suckles at the breast, the more milk is produced. Therefore, if you nurse the baby when it is hungry for at least 10 minutes at each breast, rather than putting it on a schedule, the flow of milk will increase. Infants will typically want to nurse about 8 to 18 times per day. A baby who is getting an adequate milk supply has at least 6 to 8 wet diapers each day.
Decrease in milk production is often due to a rigid feeding schedule. Many women also find that their milk supply decreases if they fail to get enough rest or if they are under stress. In addition, poor nutrition on the part of the breastfeeding woman often leads to a lessened milk supply.
Check with your physician before taking any drugs or medication. Most medications will be transmitted to the baby through the breast milk in varying degrees of concentration.
THE PROPER DIET FOR NURSING WILL INCLUDE:
1. Maintaining an overall healthy diet. Eat daily servings of vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. For more information, refer to the article on healthy diet.
2. Add plenty of calcium-rich foods to the diet. Eat 2 or more servings of the following daily: 4 ounces of nuts, 1 ounce of dried seaweed, 1 cup of cooked greens, 8 ounces of fish, or 2 tablespoons of molasses. Other good sources of calcium include goat milk, salmon, sardines, mackerel, and sesame seeds.
3. Be sure to get enough protein. The number of grams of protein you need to eat daily is equal to about 2/3 of your weight in pounds. Include beans, nuts, and seeds as high-quality sources of protein in the diet.
4. To increase the B vitamins in the diet, take 3 to 6 heaping tablespoons of nutritional yeast throughout the day with meals or blended with milk or juice.
5. Calf liver or liquid extracts of liver help supply the higher than usual requirements for B vitamins and vitamin A. Consult the product label for daily dosage if commercial extracts are used. To avoid taking in too much vitamin A, care must be taken not to consume more liver than the equivalent of 1/4 pound per day.
6. Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, especially beet greens, kale, collards, turnip tops, and dandelion greens.
7. Supplement liquid intake with barley water. It is prepared by boiling 1/2 cup pearl barley in 3 cups of water for 25 minutes. Strain it and add 1 teaspoon of Fennel seeds per cup of liquid. Fennel tends to increase breast milk production.
8. Wheat germ Up to 1/2 cup per day.
9. Consumption of caffeine by nursing mothers has been related to fussiness and colic in infants. Decrease or eliminate consumption of caffeine, found mostly in sodas, coffee, black tea, chocolate, and some over-the-counter medications.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE TAKEN WHILE NURSING:
1. Vitamin C 1,000 milligrams twice per day.
2. A multivitamin and mineral supplement taken daily. Prenatal vitamins are fine to use. Consult the product label for dosage information.
3. Iron 30 milligrams, 3 times per day.
4. Do not take vitamin B6 supplements, as they may contribute to lowered milk production.
HERBS CAN BE USED TO HELP INCREASE THE MILK SUPPLY:
1. Galega or Goat's Rue 1 tablespoon of the herb in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes. Take 3 cups of the tea daily.
2. Blessed Thistle Leaf 20 drops of the tincture, which is liquid herbal extract, 2 to 4 times per day.
3. Borage Leaf 1 ounce of the dried leaves in a quart of boiling water. Steep for 30 minutes. One half cupful is taken before or during each nursing session.
5. Including lots of fresh parsley and watercress in the diet is also helpful in sustaining lactation.
6. Hops flowers are excellent for the relaxation of the mother as well as to increase the flow of milk. However, the tea is extremely bitter. Alcohol-free beer made without chemical additives is another way to consume hops.
7. An ample intake of liquid is required to maintain a plentiful flow of milk. A nursing mother should drink 8 to 12 cups of liquids per day. Mineral-rich herb teas such as Raspberry leaf, Nettles, Alfalfa, or Red Clover are recommended. To make a cup of tea, add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 tablespoon of the dried herb. Let the tea sit covered for 3 to 5 minutes.
AS ADDITIONAL MEASURES:
Eliminate or cut down on smoking. Heavy smoking reduces milk production, reduces the already small vitamin C content of milk, and increases the possibility that the infant will suffer from colic, nausea or vomiting.
Eliminate consumption of alcohol to avoid possible harmful effects on the baby, since the alcohol content of breast milk rises at about the same rate as the alcohol content in the blood.
FOR THE BABY:
1. After 6 months, the stored iron that the baby has is depleted. Since breast milk contains relatively small quantities of iron, the infant's diet can be supplemented with liquid iron. See the product label for dosage information.
2. Breast milk is low in vitamin D. Expose the baby to the sun daily if the weather permits. However, be careful not to let the baby become chilled.
Clinic
Footnotes
BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.