Does Mother’s Milk Tea Improve Lactation? Benefits & Risks

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New moms are often concerned about the sufficiency of breast milk and tend to opt for methods such as mother’s milk tea to improve lactation. Breastfeeding needs to continue for up to 12 months, and experts state that babies who are exclusively fed breast milk during the initial six months will grow into healthy adults (1). Sometimes, a mother’s milk supply does not establish well or starts to decline, leaving her frustrated, heartbroken, and worried about her baby’s nutrition. But the good news is that some effective and natural ways to increase milk production exist. For example, one of the widely used herbal drinks to improve lactation in new moms is mother’s milk tea. If you want to explore this tea more and learn ways to use it to boost breast milk supply, then read on. We provide important details on mother’s milk tea that could help you make an informed decision when choosing this tea to boost your breast milk supply.

What Is Mother’s Milk Tea?

Mother’s Milk Tea is a healthy blend of several herbs that contribute to increased lactation in women (2). It contains a blend of herbs, such as fenugreek, fennel, anise, blessed thistle, coriander, lemongrass leaf, and many others which are believed to support lactation. While there are many such herbal tea blends commonly available in the market, and you can quite easily buy them, there is also a method of making the mother’s milk tea or nursing tea at home. In this case, you can choose the loose leaf blends available of various herbs and customize your tea based on your preference and requirements.

However, it’s important to note that there is little scientific proof to support this. Most studies on herbal remedies like this tea are small and not very reliable. According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, there isn’t enough research to confirm that these herbs actually increase milk supply. Their report mentions that only one study, where 60 participants used Mother’s Milk Tea, examined its effect on breastfeeding rates. However, the study found no significant difference in breastfeeding rates at six months, and the evidence was rated as very low certainty (3).” Some sources also suggest that the noticeable difference could be due to the placebo effect (4).

Organic Mother’s Milk Tea Herbs That Are Good For Improving Lactation

When educating yourself about Mother’s Milk Tea, you will often come across the term galactagogue. This term refers to all those foods, herbs, and medicines that promote milk production in a mother’s body (5). A cross-sectional online survey by multiple universities involving 1,294 breastfeeding women found that 57.5% of women used galactagogues to enhance their breast milk supply (6). About 30 or more such herbs can promote lactation in women. Most of these herbs are commonly available spices, and it is quite astonishing how these simple ingredients can support milk production and flow. These findings indicate that galactagogue use among lactating mothers is not uncommon.

Galactagogue herbs fundamentally support digestion, encourage relaxation, and support the production of certain lactation-specific hormones. Some of the most common galactagogue herbs that are easily available include (7) (8):

• Alfalfa
• Anise
• Blessed thistle
• Fennel
• Fenugreek
• Goat’s rue
• Hops
• Marshmallow root
• Malunggay
• Nettle
• Oat straw (oats)
• Raspberry leaves
• Shatavari

Mother’s Milk Tea contains several beneficial herbs for breastfeeding to promote lactation. As a result, the tea is organic, offering some relief if you are struggling to supply milk to your newborn infant.

Does Mother’s Milk Tea Work?

For many mothers it does work. That is because many of the herbs that go into making may serve as herbal or natural remedies and help stimulate prolactin which helps boost milk supply. Fenugreek present in this herbal tea is the main prolactin-boosting ingredient. Though it is a little bitter in taste, the effects of fenugreek on increasing breast milk supply are quite significant in traditional medicine. Commercially available teas often contain herbs like anise, coriander, spearmint, lemongrass, and marshmallow root, in addition to fennel and fenugreek (9). Several nursing mothers vouch for Mother’s Milk Tea’s positive impact and recommend it to their friends seeking breastfeeding support.

This tea is commonly available in most drug and grocery stores. However, it is always best to seek your health practitioner’s advice before including Mother’s Milk Tea as a part of your maternal diet. It is also essential to be mindful of any potential side effects that may impact your maternal health while consuming this tea.

Make Your Own Mother’s Milk Tea

Today, Mother’s Milk Tea is available online as well as in brick and mortar shops and stores. However, you can make your tea at home to help your body produce more milk for your little one. Whether you choose to consume an already available blend or want to mix your own spices, it is important to understand that the tea is only well-made when you steep the herbs properly. This will require steeping the herbal blend for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes. However, some herbs are bitter, so you may want to steep them for less time.

You can choose your own combination and blend them together. To make your own mother’s milk tea, here is what you should do.

• Pour 1 cup (8 oz) of boiling water over one tea bag or 1 teaspoon of dried herb. Or, you can add a tea bag or 1 teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiling water in your teapot.
• Cover and steep for the desired amount of time
• If using loose herbs, strain the concoction
• Divide the drink into portions and drink several times throughout the day

Marillyn, a mother of five, writes about her experience trying Mother’s milk tea during her pregnancies. She writes, “This special tea mixture is amazing! I couldn’t believe how much milk I was producing with no painful engorgement when my milk first came in after drinking it. This stuff is good! Yes, my breasts still felt tight and tender, but it wasn’t painful, and I wasn’t uncomfortable… I have drank this tea with my 3rd (Tobias) and 4th (Poema). I never once worried about having enough milk, and I even like to make a big batch of this tea occasionally because it tastes so yummy (i)!”

Advantages Of Mother’s Milk Tea

Anecdotal evidence shows many women consider Mother’s Milk Tea to be like a wonder drink that can stimulate their bodies to boost milk production. When consumed with a balanced diet for maternal nutrition, Mother’s Milk Tea can significantly impact your breast milk composition and production. It also has other advantages such as:

• Alleviating iron deficiency (the herbs nettle and alfalfa are rich in iron and increase iron and blood in the body).
• Many herbs in Mother’s Milk Tea act as antidepressants and can help new mothers deal with postpartum depression.
• Mother’s Milk Tea consists of the galactagogue herbs in a powerful combination that has a very positive impact on the lactation ability of the woman.
• Another good thing about this tea is that the herbal combination is often sweet. Fenugreek, in particular, tastes like maple syrup.
• Another very positive outcome of drinking Mother’s Milk Tea is on colicky babies. The herbs soothe the baby’s stomach, and your baby may have fewer incidences of colic pain and gas compared to those babies whose mothers don’t have these herbs.

Side Effects Of Mother’s Milk Tea

Mother’s Milk Tea primarily contains the herbs fennel and anise. These ingredients have been used for ages to increase milk production in lactating women. However, there was a report in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology that these contain anethole, dianethole, and photoanethole. These three compounds are chemically similar to estrogen, and excessive consumption of these can have opposite effects too (10).

Also, drinking Mother’s Milk Tea can cause the following undesirable side effects:

1. Body odor

Fenugreek present in the tea can be responsible for maple-like odor (11).

Your urine and sweat may have this odor. If you notice a maple-like odor in your baby’s urine, consult your pediatrician immediately. This odor is also associated with a serious metabolic disorder called Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

2. Excessive stomach acids

Blessed thistle present in Mother’s Milk Tea is responsible for increased production of stomach acids. This can lead to stomach ulcers and heartburn in women if consumed in excessive amounts. Additionally, overconsumption of this herb may cause vomiting. (12).

3. Upset stomach

According to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, some mothers can experience abdominal discomfort, nausea, and diarrhea after consuming fenugreek (13). If your little one is sensitive to fenugreek like you, instead of curing the colic, your baby may develop colic.

4. Allergic reaction

Most herbs can cause allergic reactions. So if you are allergic to one of the herbs in Mother’s Milk Tea, you could get hives, rashes, diarrhea or wheezing.

5. Reduction in blood sugar levels

If you consume too much fenugreek, it can alter your blood sugar, causing it to plunge. You can develop hypoglycemia, which can be serious if you have diabetes.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the best ways to increase breast milk supply are tracking milk production, making sure the breasts are fully emptied, continuing to pump as the baby gets stronger, and breastfeeding or pumping more often. There is little scientific proof that medications or herbal supplements help boost milk supply. While herbal supplements are generally safe, they have not been shown to increase milk production (15).

If you are considering it, first assess your needs, check for sensitivities, and monitor any changes. Other options include staying hydrated, eating nutrient-rich foods, using lactation supplements, or consulting a lactation expert. Prescription medications may help in some cases but should only be used under medical supervision (16). Before trying any galactagogue, ask your healthcare provider about safer, more effective ways to support milk production.

Learn about the best lactogenic foods to help increase your milk supply! Discover which foods are best for nursing moms and how to incorporate them into your diet.

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