If you’re a new mum, you probably have a lot of questions on your mind. It’s understandable, you only want the best for your baby but you also have zero experience in the field. The most important thing, to begin with, is making sure that your little one gets all the necessary nutrients for development through breastfeeding. However, some mums struggle to produce enough milk to meet the needs of the baby. Don’t worry though. This is often temporary and can be improved with certain tricks. One of which is breastfeeding tea.
What Is Breastfeeding Tea?
Breastfeeding tea or lactation tea is a type of herbal tea that new mothers use in order to boost their milk supply. It’s completely safe both for the mom and the baby and you can find tasty breastfeeding tea at the online stores selling baby supplies. But how does it work? Well, the secret lies in the following herbs that are usually found in the tea.
Fenugreek
The fenugreek herb looks like clover and has a smell and taste like maple syrup. It’s been used as a spice for cooking, but also for medical purposes. For centuries, people have been using it for diabetes and to increase the milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. It can be found in southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and western Asia.
Fennel
Fennel is a plant that belongs to the carrot family, although it’s not a root vegetable. It has a thick bulb and light green leaves, and it grows above the ground. Every part of the plant is edible. People serve it as a side dish when cooking, it can also be used to make soup, or as a salad. It also has a lot of health benefits since it contains dietary fibres, potassium, vitamin C. It’s also part of the herbs used in the creation of the lactation tea since it has galactogenic properties that boost milk secretion.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm Is a herb that has a lemon scent and is part of the mint family. It can be found in the mix of herbs used in the creation of breastfeeding teas since it has a lot of health benefits. It’s found to relieve stress and anxiety and helps to get a good night sleep, which is all related to promoting the production of breast milk.
Goats Rue
Goats rue is a type of plant. Some parts of it are used in the creation of a medicine. It’s also a common part of pf lactation teas. It’s not exactly known how it works, but many mothers have reported improvements after using it. It’s also good for diabetes and digestive problems.
Caraway Seed
The caraway seed is rich in vitamins, minerals and fibres. It contains essential oils and antioxidants and is known for having beneficial digestive and anti-flatulent properties. It’s known to protect from infection and some types of cancer, it has anti-aging properties and enhances milk production.
Positive Effects of Using Breastfeeding Tea
As you can see, lactation tea blends are completely natural, made from herbs that in addition to promoting lactation have many health benefits for the human body. Although it’s not scientifically proven that these plants and blends help increase milk production with 100% certainty, just the additional hydration, the variety of vitamins and minerals and the calming properties the herbs have, help new mums relax and sleep better. And sometimes the troubles with being unable to produce enough milk are related to anxiety and lack of sleep.
Additional Tips and Tricks to Increase Milk Supply
In addition to drinking this healthy tea, there are many other options you can try until you find what’s best for you.
Get a Bite of Lactation Cookies
Do you know what goes well with tea? Cookies! Or in this case, lactation cookies to be more specific. Lactation cookies contain ingredients that are known to help with milk production. They’re made out of fenugreek, barley, oats and brewer yeast. They taste delicious and are easy to carry with you and eat just about anywhere, and of course, the perfect snack to enjoy with a cup of tea.
Get Enough Sleep
Don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. When you sleep, your body and mind recharge, leaving you refreshed and rested. Healthy sleep is crucial in order for the body to stay healthy, and to function properly, meaning that getting a good night sleep can help normalise and increase milk production.
Get Rid of Bad Habits
Drinking alcohol and smoking are known to have a negative impact on the overall well-being of humans, especially when It comes to new mums. If you want to produce quality milk for your baby, you should definitely avoid these bad habits. Also, be careful about what kind of medications you take. Certain medications can affect the milk-production process, so it’s advisable to talk to your doctor or a pharmacist first in order to avoid additional complications.
Drink Plenty of Liquids
Staying hydrated is always important, but even more so when you’re breastfeeding. Milk itself is a liquid, so logically, drinking enough liquids can help you produce more milk.
Take Some Time to Relax
Getting a massage and taking the time to relax is a great idea. All the stress, tiredness and lack of sleep can contribute to the problem of not producing enough milk. Remember that your well-being is important. A happy parent equals a happy child.
Try Yoga
Last but not least, you can try yoga. Practising yoga helps you relax, sleep better, improves your mood and increases your energy levels. By practising yoga can help you manage stress and it promotes better self-care. You only need 15-30 minutes time, meaning it’s a good option for busy parents. Yoga and parenting go great together.