Galactagogues, herbs used to increase breastmilk production in women, have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world. One mom reviewed a galactagogue tea here. Mother’s Milk is a breastfeeding tea and is available online or at larger health food or natural grocery stores.

Review: Traditional Medicinal’s Organic Mother’s Milk

I received a box of Traditional Medicinal’s Organic Mother’s Milk when I first started to breastfeed and found that I truly enjoyed it right from the start. I prefer this over Yogi’s Nursing Mother’s tea as this one tastes lighter and smoother. Mother’s Milk is a caffeine-free, all organic blend of herbs and spices designed to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers.

Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk, 16-Count Boxes

Anise is a spice that I have never enjoyed. The fact that Mother’s Milk seems to use less of it than Yogi’s nursing tea is a plus for me. What I taste when I drink Mother’s Milk is a sort of sweet, yet a little spicy blend of herbs. It tastes best with a touch of honey. It also contains the herbs of fennel, fenugreek seed and coriander, which are a nice combination for a healthy milk supply. The blend of spices smells delicious too.

The way I prefer to drink this tea is cold. I brew a pot of this overnight, chill and drink cold throughout the day. Since there is a tiny hint of spearmint in it, it can be refreshing. This way I am getting in several cups on a daily basis. During the winter months, a warm cup can be soothing for the body.

My milk production has been steady and plentiful throughout the years, perhaps due to drinking this tea. This is also one of my favorite gifts to give a pregnant mother who has planned to breastfeed or still deciding to do so. Having a low milk supply is worrisome for many women and having this tea helps reduce that worry. A box of 16 bags costs around $5.

See also: Yogi Women’s Nursing Support Tea review

Breastfeeding tea is comprised of herbs known to increase prolactin levels.  Prolactin is the hormone responsible for milk production. Some of them work by other means. These herbs are referred to as galactagogues, meaning they increase breastmilk.

For breastfeeding tea to work, you need to drink large quantities of it. Many of the teas contain fenugreek, an herb that smells like maple syrup. Moms often notice that their sweat smells like maple syrup when taking it. Moms report drinking at least 3 cups a day to notice a change. Teas are usually weaker forms of herbs compared to capsule form.  Keep this in mind when you purchase breastfeeding tea from a health store (such as Mother’s Milk Tea) and other varieties on the Internet.  You can also buy capsules and even tinctures which are stronger than tea and don’t require sipping but can be quickly swallowed down and chased with another drink (in case you find the flavor of the herbs unpleasant!). Depending on the tea, you may see an increase in your supply in as little as 24 hours but most moms see a gradual increase over the course of a week.

As always, herbal teas are not FDA approved and can have adverse side effects, although most of the herbs used in breastfeeding teas are quite harmless in the amounts recommended.  If you notice any side effects from the tea in yourself or your baby, discontinue its use immediately. The safest way to increase your milk supply is simply to nurse the baby more frequently.

Breastfeeding Tea:

More Milk Plus

Since what comes out (wet/dirty diapers) must have gone in, this is a commonly used tool to gauge whether baby is getting plenty of milk. Many moms cannot tell if their milk is letting down and do not always hear baby sucking and swallowing at the breast. A breastfeeding chart can provide some peace of mind for a new mom worried about her supply.

You can also write down what time you nursed, which side you started/stopped on and any other information related to nursing your baby. It’s much easier than relying on your sleep deprived, new mommy brain to remember the details. A quick glance at the chart and you’re back on track.

Another fantastic tool for a nursing mom is to familiarize herself with the normal growth rate of breastfed babies. The weight chart that most pediatricians have is for formula fed babies. Breastfed babies tend to grow more quickly for the first 3 months then a little more slowly than their formula fed peers. Below there is a link to a growth chart for breastfeeding babies that will prove helpful.

Downloadable/printable breastfeeding charts:

Family Education’s breastfeeding chart
Woman’s Org breastfeeding chart

Kellymom breastfeeding baby growth chart

It includes Bosom Buddies, Booby Tubes, Natural Nipple Butter and Milkmaid Tea. Bosom Buddies are herbal compresses to treat and prevent engorgement. They feel amazing on tender nipples also.

The Booby Tubes are also compresses to treat engorgement. Both are made from 100% organic cotton. The Booby Tubes can be warmed up in the microwave or chilled in the freezer. It’s nice to have one product that can be used either hot or cold, depending on what you need.

The Natural Nipple Butter is a lanolin-free moisturizer for treating and preventing dry, cracked nipples.

The Milkmaid Tea is an herbal tea you drink to encourage your milk supply.

All four of the products in the boxed set are natural and organic and Phthalate-free. I received this set as a gift from a friend after the birth of my second child. I believe it made all the difference in my breastfeeding experience, as compared to that with my first.

The Milkmaid Tea is by far my favorite product in the set.

Before I started drinking the tea, twice a day, I was only able to express about two ounces at a time. After drinking the tea for a little over a week, I was able to express a little over six ounces at a time. I didn’t order more of the tea before I ran out and had to go a week without it, during that time, I was only able to express about four ounces at a time. I can only speak for my own experience, but I really believe the Milkmaid Tea has made a huge difference in my milk production.

I wasn’t overly crazy about the Natural Nipple Butter. I’ve used other creams that I preffered over it. It’s chocolate scent also didn’t do a thing for me. I really liked the Bosom Buddies, but I wished the muslin bags included with the herbs were of a little better quality. You get two in the set and they didn’t hold up very well.

The Breastfeeding Support Kit and other Earth Mama Angel Baby products can be purchased online at amazon.com