How to determine the existing need for taking tea to increase lactation?
The problem of insufficient breast milk production (hypolactia), associated with health conditions or hormonal imbalances, occurs in only 5% of women. In other cases, milk deficiency is associated with a number of eliminateable causes:
- The girl’s lack of psychological attitude towards breastfeeding.
- Insufficient and unbalanced nutrition during pregnancy and after childbirth.
- Stressful situations.
- Rare and incorrect application of the baby to the breast, feeding according to the schedule.
- Introduction of complementary foods ahead of time, supplementary feeding with formulas.
Even if breastfeeding is established, milk production may suddenly decrease due to a lactation crisis.
To determine if a baby is not getting enough nutrition, you should pay attention to a number of factors:
- the problem of “dry diapers”;
A breastfed baby should empty the bladder at least 6 times a day. In this case, the urine should be barely yellow or transparent.
- no or slight weight gain per month;
- restless behavior of the baby, dry lips, pale skin;
- reduction in the daily volume of milk produced.
You can check for insufficient milk in a practical way by weighing the baby before and after feeding throughout the day. An important indicator of effectiveness is the baby’s normal development, growth, well-being and condition.
Without being convinced of the diagnosis of hypolactia, there is no need to introduce formula or early complementary feeding into the baby’s diet, because there is still a chance to compete for breastfeeding by increasing the amount of fluid consumed, changing nutrition, normalizing the emotional state and using lactation teas as an effective means of increasing breast milk.
Harm and contraindications to drinking green tea for nursing women
During breastfeeding, it is necessary to remember that strongly brewed green tea can harm the baby and cause neurological problems.
The drink should not be consumed if you have problems with the urinary system.
Therefore, you should not brew this drink for a long time. If you have kidney problems or urolithiasis, you should stop drinking green tea.
We also recommend fireweed and chamomile when breastfeeding.
Myths and reality
The benefits of lactation teas have been proven through experimental, practical methods and responses from mothers. But there are several known other ways to stimulate lactation. How true this information is is discussed below.
Mixing tea and a dairy product has been proven to neutralize the health benefits of both drinks.
Milk protein, when interacting with tea particles, forms a compound that is difficult to digest by the body and leads to the appearance of kidney stones.
Myth No. 1. Tea with milk will improve lactation.
Reality. Tea, like any warm liquid, provokes a rush of breast milk to the mammary glands. Therefore, milk decoction has the same effect on breastfeeding as any other drink. At the same time, consuming a drink with honey, sugar, or sweeteners can provoke an allergy in your baby.
Myth No. 2. Beer can increase your milk supply.
Reality. Beer is not compatible with feeding a baby. It has been proven that after consuming alcoholic beverages, the amount of milk secretion decreases by a quarter. In this case, the drink changes the taste of the milk, and the baby may refuse it.
Solving the problem with lactation
If you are a nursing mother, it is very important to get the process right. When the baby does not eat enough and remains hungry, he begins to be capricious, cry and demand more and more breasts. What to do if little breast milk is produced? First of all, it is necessary to put the baby to the breast more often. It will stimulate milk production and increase lactation.
Light massages of the mammary glands and warm compresses remain no less important. They must be done regularly. Naturally, the result will be achieved only if the nursing mother eats a nutritious and varied diet, consumes enough liquid and takes daily walks in the fresh air. All procedures, of course, will help increase lactation, but will not give maximum results.
The tea contains only natural seeds and herbs
The optimal addition would be the soluble, granular lactation drink “Humana”. Herbal tea is recommended by many pediatricians and breastfeeding specialists. It is easy to use, very popular, gives excellent results, and contains only natural ingredients - a balanced mixture of herbal extracts.
The effect of herbs on lactation
Lactation tea, which increases the production of breast milk in women, consists only of natural ingredients. The composition of lactational products includes the following components:
- Lucerne. A lactogenic plant, with long-term consumption, leads to inhibition of the production of blood elements. Therefore, you need to add grass to your diet only according to the instructions.
- Caraway. A popular herb that is included in teas by most manufacturers. The plant has an antispasmodic effect. However, scientists have not thoroughly determined whether cumin supplements help increase milk production.
- Fennel. One of the most popular components of herbal teas that affect breast milk. The decoction improves digestion. However, there is no scientifically proven evidence of the effectiveness of the product.
- Fenugreek. The plant was used to increase lactation in ancient times, as it contains an analogue of the female hormone.
- Rosemary. There is no reliable information regarding effectiveness.
- Dill. It has no contraindications for consumption, but the effectiveness of the product has not been tested.
- Horse chestnut.
The stimulating effect of horse chestnut on increasing milk supply has been proven in clinical trials.
- Nettle. In addition to increasing the amount of milk in mothers, the herb helps restore the functioning of the uterus during the postpartum period.
- Basil. Contains phytoestrogen.
- Ginseng.
Popular brands of tea for nursing mothers
To eliminate insufficiency of breast milk, both ready-made, granulated, bagged tea and drinks prepared at home are used. Lactation teas are divided into several groups:
- Herbal infusions:
- "Lactaphytol";
- “Grandma’s Basket”;
- "Lactavit."
- Quickly brewed teas based on plant extracts:
- "Hipp";
- "Bebivita";
- "Humana."
- Instant teas with added milk powder:
- "Milky Way".
And in order to choose which drink is better and ideal for a nursing mother, a rating of lactation teas has been prepared below.
Hipp
The product is of German quality and manufactured by a leading company in the creation of baby food. There are two types of Hipp: granulated or fortified fruit decoction. The hippie drink is supplemented, in addition to the famous herbs - fennel, anise and caraway - with iron, iodine and vitamin B9. The lactation infusion can be drunk either hot or cooled.
Humana
Another German product, Humana, included a number of herbs in its composition: hibiscus, fenugreek, raspberry, rooibos, galega. Manufacturers also added a vitamin-mineral complex: vitamin C, sucrose. Herbal tea is sold in loose form.
Bebivita
A natural remedy to improve lactation. The product is sold in packaged form. However, many mothers note the unpleasant taste of the herbal decoction and advise diluting the liquid with milk or condensed milk.
Grandma's basket
The drug is distinguished by its natural composition, the absence of preservatives, dyes and flavors. The basis of the herbal collection:
- Melissa;
- caraway;
- anise;
- nettle;
- fennel;
- dog-rose fruit.
The tea has been developed not only to enhance breast secretions, but also to improve digestion, eliminate colic in babies, and maintain hemoglobin levels in the postpartum period.
Lactaphytol
Russian herbal tea, which increases the amount of breast discharge by 45-50%, has been positively noted by nursing mothers. Drink the decoction twice a day, brewing a tea bag in ½ cup of boiling water. Take the drink for 30 days.
Mom's tea
For effective breastfeeding, it is developed in the form of two-gram “Mom's Tea” bags. You need to drink two glasses of herbal decoction per day, first pour boiling water over the bag and let it steep for 5 minutes. The herbal infusion included: anise, dill, fennel and oregano.
Weleda
It is recommended to consume the product three times a day, one glass, and leave the decoction under a closed lid for 5-7 minutes. A pack of Weleda tea contains 20 herbal tea bags.
Fleur Alpine
An effective natural tea containing nettle, mint, fennel, galega and lemon balm. It is recommended to drink the product three times a day.
Mother
A drug that increases the amount of breast milk includes:
- black currant leaves;
- fennel;
- nettle;
- mint;
- caraway;
- galega.
Gaia Herbs
The product is sold in packaged form, one pack contains 6 herbal bags. Each package includes:
- marshmallow;
- fennel;
- galega;
- fenugreek;
- lemon balm.
The daily intake is 1 sachet.
Florina
A product based on medicinal plants: chamomile, yarrow, lemon balm, fennel, oregano, mint and thyme; It has a safe composition, stimulates lactation, and has a positive effect on the baby’s digestive system.
Milky Way
The effectiveness of this drug as a lactogenic agent has been proven in clinical trials. A safe product based on the galega plant, it does not contain artificial or harmful components for mothers and babies.
Evalar
The product, consisting of a number of environmentally friendly Altai herbs, stimulates lactation and has a positive effect on the baby’s digestive system.
Other brands
In addition to the above teas, you can find others that are no less famous, for example, Bio Lactomama, Egyptian yellow tea from helba seeds or green tea with oregano. When choosing an herbal product, you should definitely study the composition.
How to drink green tea while breastfeeding
It is worth recalling that the beneficial properties of green tea are fully contained only in leaf varieties; bagged tea bears little resemblance to a healing drink.
Tea should not be brewed for too long so as not to spoil the taste.
Green tea must be brewed correctly. In order not to lose useful substances, the tea leaves are poured with hot boiled water at 80-90 degrees. It takes about 1-2 minutes to brew green tea, otherwise the drink will be too strong and bitter, this is not very good for an infant and can cause excessive excitability.
If there are no contraindications and the baby tolerates the drink drunk by the mother well, the dose of tea can be 3-4 cups per day.
You should not add any additives to tea in the form of milk, honey and sugar, as this will cause the tea to lose a large amount of beneficial substances, and additional components can cause allergic reactions in the baby.
Folk recipes
Products to improve lactation can not only be purchased at the pharmacy, but also prepared at home.
Effective and frequently used are:
- decoction with dill or fennel. Tea is prepared from seeds, which are steamed with a glass of boiling water, cooled and drunk. After 2-3 days they take a break;
- chamomile drink based on plant flowers;
- ginger infusion, which is prepared at the rate of one ginger root per liter of water. Add lemon and honey to the cooled broth;
- linden infusion. To do this, linden blossom is brewed in a thermos, left for up to half an hour, and drunk before meals.
Important! You should not drink mint tea for lactation, as the product reduces milk production.
How often and correctly to drink herbal teas during breastfeeding?
You need to drink herbal teas with some caution, following the rules:
- duration of treatment – no more than 7 days, then you need to take a break;
- consume the dose indicated on the package per day;
- purchase goods only in pharmacies and trusted stores;
- Before consumption, be sure to consult a specialist, pediatrician;
- monitor the body’s reactions, both yours and your child’s;
- drink the drink warm (ideally 36 degrees) a quarter of an hour before feeding;
- In addition to lactation teas, use other ways to increase lactation.
The process of breast milk formation
During lactation, the concentration of certain hormones in the mother's blood increases. Prolactin is the main hormone that triggers milk production. Its formation is supported by frequent breastfeeding.
To ensure sufficient milk secretion, on average, it is necessary to latch on to the baby at least 12 times a day (including at night). Babies for the first three months are fed on demand. Due to frequent and prolonged sucking, the body of a nursing woman receives signals to form a new secretion.
The entire lactation process is based on two basic principles:
- the more often breast stimulation occurs, the higher milk production;
- the more secretion is excreted, the more abundantly it is produced.
Drinking cannot affect the volume of milk secretion. Even if you use tea for nursing mothers, but neglect the key conditions for successful breastfeeding, no positive changes will occur. But if a woman often feeds her baby and at the same time drinks, for example, tea with milk for lactation, she is unlikely to encounter a shortage of breast milk.
