Natural supplements to increase breast milk flow

Lactation Specialist Wendy Haldeman shares advice for mothers who struggle with low milk supply on a few natural supplements that can increase breast milk flow
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Natural supplements to increase breast milk flow

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Mothers who are struggling with milk supply are looking for solutions. Things that are commonly bantered about are drinking dark beer and taking certain herbs. Dark beer may work. There is really no clinical trials to show what works and doesn't work. What may be helpful in dark beer are the hops and grains. Again, we are not really sure. Its anecdotal. It's mother tells mother. Two herbs that people think may be helpful are Fennel and Fenugreek. They are pretty harmless, although some physicians have concerns about Fenugreek if the mother is asthmatic. Fenugreek is in the ragweed family. The other possible concern is for women who are diabetics. Sometimes there is a hypoglycemic effect, so that might not be the best choice for a mom who has Type I Diabetes. The other possibility is that some moms who take a lot of Fenugreek experience some diarrhea. Otherwise, they seem to be pretty harmless. Do they really work? Depends, some mothers say they really help, and other mothers say they didn't see any affect at all. So, we will just have to see how it goes.

Lactation Specialist Wendy Haldeman shares advice for mothers who struggle with low milk supply on a few natural supplements that can increase breast milk flow

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Wendy Haldeman, RN, MN, IBCLC

Lactation Specialist

Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC is a co-founder of the Pump Station and Nurtury. She received both her nursing and lactation education at UCLA, is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and a certified Happiest Baby on the Block instructor. She lectures frequently on human lactation at medical and nursing schools and has been identified by publications, such as Fit Pregnancy, as an expert in her field. Wendy facilitates the New Mother Support groups, and teaches the prenatal Breastfeeding and Baby Care Classes at The Pump Station. She and her husband Tim are proud of their two grown daughters and their 15 month old granddaughter.

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Transcription: 
Mothers who are struggling with milk supply are looking for solutions. Things that are commonly bantered about are drinking dark beer and taking certain herbs. Dark beer may work. There is really no clinical trials to show what works and doesn't work. What may be helpful in dark beer are the hops and grains. Again, we are not really sure. Its anecdotal. It's mother tells mother. Two herbs that people think may be helpful are Fennel and Fenugreek. They are pretty harmless, although some physicians have concerns about Fenugreek if the mother is asthmatic. Fenugreek is in the ragweed family. The other possible concern is for women who are diabetics. Sometimes there is a hypoglycemic effect, so that might not be the best choice for a mom who has Type I Diabetes. The other possibility is that some moms who take a lot of Fenugreek experience some diarrhea. Otherwise, they seem to be pretty harmless. Do they really work? Depends, some mothers say they really help, and other mothers say they didn't see any affect at all. So, we will just have to see how it goes.