Are Lactation Treats Worth The Hefty Price Tag?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been in the position before of googling “how can I maintain/boost my breastmilk supply?!”. Upon Google search, you were probably inundated with numerous cookies, brownies, and shakes that claimed to boost your supply! You’ve probably seen their marketing which shows 8oz of breastmilk being pumped at one time (as if this is normal, or necessary). But I’m here to spill the tea (the lactation tea, if you will) about these products, why they’re unneccesary, and what really works!
To start, let’s explain why these products are simply NOT the magic answer to your supply. Breast milk works on a supply and demand system, which means the more milk you TAKE from the breast, the more milk you will MAKE. Impacts on your milk supply can be due to some (or all) of the following reasons:
poor latch/oral restrictions (baby is not removing milk properly from the breast, so body is not signaled to continue making milk)
improper flange size (pump flange sizes that are too big or too small, which cause the pump to not effectively remove milk)
not following biological infant hunger cues, and instead feeding on a schedule or getting rid of overnight milk removals
inadequate caloric intake (mother is not eating enough calories)
mother’s hydration (mother is not properly hydrated)
changes in hormones (due to menstrual cycle return or other hormonal imbalances)
other medical related circumstances
Lactation marketed products claim to fame is that they include galactagogues which are foods that have been known to provide a SMALL increase in milk production, typically when eaten in abundance. Some examples of these foods/herbs are oats, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, nettle leaf, and more. None of these foods are HARMFUL to your supply, and you may, in fact, notice a small to moderate increase in the amount of milk that you make. But it is certainly not enough to correct any supply issues that may be arising due to the reasons for supply dips above.
Okay, so we get it, Marisa. Lactation marketed products are not the answer. So what exactly can we do to fix a supply issue?
First: know that the amount of milk that people show on the internet may not be an accurate depiction of a healthy milk supply
If you’re concerned that you’ve seen mothers with freezers full of breastmilk, or pumping sessions that amount to 8 or more ounces at a time, know that this is NOT NORMAL, and is actually indicative of an oversupply. You can expect to see anywhere from 2-5 oz of milk from a pumping session that is being used to replace a feed.
Second: focus on the quality of the latch, and reach out for support if it feels painful, shallow, or if baby consistently falls asleep at the breast or is not gaining weight/meeting milestones
All of the above can be signs that milk supply is low or that not enough milk is being transferred from breast to baby. Reach out for help when this occurs to come up with a plan! Click here to schedule a consultation with me if you need assistance in this area.
Third: Eat enough calories and drink enough water
How much is enough?! This depends on your unique age, stage, and lifestyle! If you want to learn how much you should be eating to maintain milk supply, click here to schedule a consult for one of my perinatal nutrition programs!
Fourth: Watch the baby, not the clock!
Your baby can’t tell time, so attempting to stick to a feeding schedule with a newborn is a recipe for a frustrated mama and baby! Always watch the baby for hunger cues (tongue out, rooting, hands in mouth, fussiness) rather than the clock. Feed baby on demand to ensure baby’s caloric needs continue to be met and that your body gets the memo that it needs to continue to make milk!
So mamas, in short, save your money and instead focus on a nutrient dense diet, address latch issues, and continue to feed baby around the clock to see obtainable, REAL results!
