Nutrition
- Get 500 more calories per day than your usual amount
- Stay hydrated. Only water, herbal tea, clear soup broths, and coconut water hydrate you properly.
- Limit your caffeine and alcohol
- Take an omega 3 supplement
- If infant is colicky, try omitting
- Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, brussel sprouts)
- Chocolate
- Cow’s milk
- Onions
Herbs that support lactation (Galactagogues, Lactagogues)
- marshmallow
- dill
- shatavari
- borage
- caraway
- cinnamon
- blessed thistle
- fennel
- goat’s rue
- anise
- comfrey
- dandelion root
- fenugreek
- nettles
- chaste tree berry
- vervain
Nipple Care
It is common to get sore, cracked nipples when you first start nursing your new baby. Natural, organic, herbal nibble balms can help relieve discomfort and aide in the healing process.
If you decide to use a nipple balm, it is important to remember:
- The taste of the balm might turn your baby off from nursing.
- Minimize direct intake of the balm by the baby
- Minimize essential oil and comfrey intake by the infant
- For these reasons, you can apply the balm after a nursing session. Before the next feeding, wipe any remaining balm off your nipple(s).
Ideal Herbs for Sore and Cracked Nipples
- calendula- heals cracks
- marshmallow – moisturizes
- chamomile – anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
- myrrh – antimicrobial, help with oral thrush in infants (baby safe)
- St. John’s Wart – anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, heals cracks
- Green tea
Breast Engorgement
- Cabbage leaf compresses
- Cold compress
- Proteolytic enzymes – Bromelain from pineapple
Mastitis
- Chamomile tea applies onto the breast
- Potato poultice – grate a raw potato and apply to breast for 20 minutes or until potato warms up. Repeat 3 times per day.
- For flu like symptoms such as muscle aches and fever
- Yarrow
- Chamomile
- Boneset
- Elder
- Catnip
- To promote sleep
- Chamomile
- Passion Flower
- Hops
- If mastitis is reoccurring, there could be a possible iron, vitamin C, zinc, or protein deficiency.
What to Avoid while Lactating
Caffeine containing beverages such as cola, coffees, teas (Green, Black, yerba mate) and herbs (Guarana)
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
Borage
Comfrey
Petasites
Coltsfoot
Aristolochic Acid – Wild Ginger
Alcohol – 2 or more drinks per day can inhibit milk production
Anthraquinone Laxatives – can stimulate bowel movements in infant
Senna
Cascara Sagarda
Aloe Leaf/Latex
Rhubarb Root
Cayenne
Garlic
Phytoestrogens
Herbs to avoid because of their ability to inhibit milk production
Arnica
Mahuang
Barberry
Oregon Grape
Black Cohosh
Pasque Flower
Blue Cohosh
Pennyroyal
Bugleweed
Pokeroot
Chaparral
Sage
Elecampane
Tansy
Goldenseal
Thuja
Greater Celandine
Willow Bark
Guggul
Wormwood
Jamaican Dogwood
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