If you’re struggling with low milk supply and looking for ways to increase milk production, you may have heard of “galactagogues.” as one method. Below is an overview of what you should know if you’re considering using galactagogues.
But before you read any further, I want to share some amazing slides from an Irish colleague, Caoihme Whelan, who did a study on the mental health impact of low supply. Remember, mom’s mental health is the priority ABOVE ALL ELSE. If any of this resonates with you, please reach out for support!
What are galactagogues?
The word galactagogues is derived from the Greek root galacta, which means “milk.” Therefore, galactagogues reference foods, herbs, or medications that increase breast milk production.
Examples of commonly used galactagogues for breast milk production
Food galactagogues
It is important to understand that food alone will NOT make much of a difference in your breastmilk production. As I tell my cancer patients, it never hurts to eat well — but diet alone will NOT cure your breast cancer. There is NO MAGIC BULLET for increasing breastmilk production, and if someone tells you there is — run the other way.
Women are often told to eat oatmeal, garlic, fennel seed and green leafy vegetables. These are all healthy for you in general. But if you absolutely can’t stand oatmeal or garlic, do not force yourself to eat them! Focus on modifications to feeding and/or pumping as well as concentrated herbs (see below) that will provide a truly medicinal dosage you need.
Herbal galactagogues
Unfortunately, there is very limited scientific information on herbal galactagogues and why/how they work. Here is a chart of the most common ones, recommended dosing, and ways we believe they work.
When to try galactagogues to boost breast milk production
There are different scenarios where nursing moms may consider using galactagogues to increase lactation. Some include:
- You’re early postpartum and struggling with your “milk coming in.” You can use galactagogues to “boost” your milk supply until you and baby catch up (this may take at least six weeks if you had many days to weeks of lack of stimulation after birth).
- You’re someone who produces a lower amount of milk in general, regardless of details related to things like birth, nipple shields, and sleepy babies. Expect to see very slow increase over at least six weeks and some slow potential with no guaranteed increase after that. And make sure you are not triple feeding and losing your mind! Mom’s mental health comes first.
- You’re facing a common “culprit trifecta” – real or perceived – that comprises your production:
- Sleep training where the lack of overnight stimulation decreases prolactin and may promote early return of your period.
- Starting birth control pills at your 6-week ob/gyn visit where hormones such as progesterone can impact production, especially if you’re on the lower end of supply.
- Returning to work and not having time to pump as much as you would like; and/or your pump is not as effective as baby at extracting milk; and/or leaving before baby wakes up in morning or returning after baby is asleep which all adds up to less breast stimulation.
Before trying herbal galactagogues, always check with your doctor first to avoid any adverse effects or possible allergic reactions.
3 Tips for the use of galactagogues to increase milk supply
If you want to give galactagogues a try to help you stimulate milk production, below are a few important tips to keep in mind as you get started.
- Keep it simple.
The magic mix potions most often have a little bit of everything and not enough of one thing (I explain it to patients like taking a blood pressure medication that lowers their blood pressure a little bit, but isn’t actually treating the blood pressure effectively).
- Understand that herbs work differently.
I like to use separate herbs that target different aspects of breastmilk production like the ones listed below. I do not have any conflicts of interest nor receive financial compensation for any products I recommend, but I generally use the Colorado-based “Mother’s Love” herbal products.
- Moringa (prolactin)
- Goat’s rue or brewer’s yeast (insulin)
- Fenugreek (phytoestrogen)
- Consider prescription mediciations: Reglan (metoclopramide) and domperidone (normally used to increase stomach motility, but they also increase prolactin — the “milk making” hormone).
Be aware of the cautions with regard to these medications:
- Reglan can make you sleepy and/or worsen/cause depression. If you don’t have these risk factors, it is reasonable to consider a short course for a “boost” in milk volume or to trial whether a prolactin-raising agent will work to increase your milk supply.
- Domperidone is not legal in the United States and must be obtained elsewhere (frequently Canada, Pacific Islands, Sri Lanka or India). If you do seek this out independently, please ensure you are obtaining from reputable companies as drug quality can vary considerably (I learned this from my four years of living in Africa).
It also is important to know that domperidone can cause a fatal heart arrythmia (the reason why it isn’t legal in the US) and you should discuss this with your doctor.
It’s also important to understand that domperidone is not a “magic bullet” on its own (i.e. many things factor into having low milk production, whether real or perceived).
It’s also expensive to obtain, and you may not even be getting a pure drug.
If you are considering domperidone, it’s important to “test” your response with Reglan first. If you see limited improvement with Reglan, don’t waste time, money, and health on domperidone.
