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Allergies? Breastfeeding and considering antihistamines?

Spring and summer are high-allergy times for many, breastfeeding moms included. The common approach is to take an anti-histimine to help alleviate the symptoms. You may not know, however, that these antihistimines can also decrease or dry up breastmilk!  These medications are made to dry up secretions and fluids - it will not differentiate between the different body fluids and will commonly decrease breastmilk production.  So keep this in mind if you're thinking of resorting to those anti-histimines!

Best Herbs to Increase Breastmilk Production

 

There are several herbs that work well to increase milk production.  You may be wondering which one is best for you!  Here is a brief summary - there is MUCH more information under Articles & Information and a more detailed and comprehensive one in the Premium Article section.  Here is a brief summary though:

Breastmilk - What's in it? How it Helps Your Baby for a Lifetime, and Baby's Cues that They're Ready for Solids

My assistant and student, Gina Rogers, wrote a fascinating article on breastmilk for National Breastfeeding Month that I thought was highly informative and wanted to share with you!  She writes.....

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Echinacea Tincture
 
Price$16.50

Traditionally used as a natural antibiotic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. Safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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Fennel Tincture
 
Price$13.50

Helps to ease nausea, gas, colic, reflux, indigestion, and heartburn.  Aids in bowel movements.  May Increase breastmilk production in nursing mothers.

Galactagogues - Herbs that Increase Breastmilk Production


A galactagogue is an herb that is used to help increase breastmilk production in nursing mothers. Below is a list of some of the more effective and popular herbs and some important information about each.  For a list of the products that Herb Lore offers that include these herbs, information about which one is appropriate for your situation, and helpful dosage information, please click HERE.

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Goat's Rue Tincture
 
Price$13.50

Traditionally known as a powerful herb for increasing breastmilk production. Great choice for women with IGT, hypoplasia, previous breast surgeries, or a low milk supply from the start.

Herbs for pregnant and nursing moms is NOT your regular herbalism!

Many herbalists have extensive knowledge about using herbs, but not many are specifically trained in using herbs with pregnant, trying-to-conceive or breastfeeding mothers.  This is a whole other realm of herbalism with critical considerations and consequences for pregnant and nursing mothers and their babies.  Our herbalist and company founder, Pam Caldwell, is one of the few herbalists who specialize in this area, with over 20 years of experience.  She is knowledgeable about what works and what herbs to use for various problems, and especially what is safe and appropriate for pregnant moms, trying-to-conceive moms, and breastfeeding moms and their babies.  What might be safe for a regular person may be contraindicated (or even dangerous) for a pregnant or breastfeeding woman or her baby.  The importance of using products made by an expert or listening to advice from an expert when pregnant or breastfeeding cannot be understated.   (Click the title above to read more about this important topic....)

Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy and Lactation


The lists below are not all-inclusive, but will provide a general guideline of some of the most commonly used western herbs that should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How to Increase Your Breastmilk Supply - The Summarized Version


What are the main herbs for increasing milk production?  There are many to choose from, such as Nursing Tea Moringa Blend, Nursing Tincture Moringa Blend, Goat's Rue, Moringa Leaf, ShatavariBlessed Thistle, and Fenugreek. How do I choose which is the right one for my situation?  How do I use them correctly for best results?

Info and Resources for the Formula Shortage

I have a colleague who's a recently retired IBCLC (International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants).  When she was practicing, each time she would test for her certification, she would always get the highest scores in the country.  She's extremely knowledgeable and very experienced.  I am blessed to know and work with many extremely experienced and knowledgeable lactation consultants.  

She wrote a piece yesterday about the formula shortage and what moms can do.  She's given me permission to share it with you.  Here's what she wrote:  (Please note that I have also reached out to some of my other equally qualified and experienced IBCLC's for their input, information and advice that they may have.  I will add these below when I hear back from them, in different colors to make new information easy to see.  Please check back for any new information.  Anyway, here's the first one for you:

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Iron Tonic Tincture
 
Price$24.50

Helps support healthy blood levels and may help with anemic-type situations without causing constipation like a pharmaceutical iron supplement would.

Is it worth even TRYING to breastfeed your second baby?

Didn't make enough breastmilk for your first baby?  Now you're pregnant with your next one, or considering getting pregnant again?  Are you wondering if you should even try to breastfeed this next baby, considering how difficult or perhaps even impossible it was with your first one?  Let me give you some excellent news ...  

Labor Medications: Oh yes, it affects breastfeeding.

by Laurie Chamberlin CD, ICCE, CLE

‘Will the pain medication I have in labor affect my baby?” asks my client Olivia with curious eyes. I think I know the answer she is hoping for and I don’t think I can give it to her. “Yes” I reply, to which I see a momentary flutter of disappointment cross her face. “Most medication reaches the baby in ten minutes.” At a lactation conference put on by the Breastfeeding Coalition of Placer County, Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC says Fentanyl, a common pain medication used in labor, lasts about 2 hours in the mother and can last up to 13 hours in a baby. Babies should not be breastfed for 4 hours after administration. Often times mothers will receive more than one shot, that stacks up and may take a day or more for it to wear off in the baby.

Mastitis & Plugged Ducts

These were two unexpected and VERY unpleasant issues that began to creep up on me just 3 weeks after the birth of my daughter.  Actually it didn’t creep up at all - it actually happened very fast – one minute I was feeling fine and within a ½ hour, I was feeling horrible.  Like I had the worst flu of my life.  Fever, achiness - it seemed like there was pain everywhere.  And I had to take care of my new baby while I was feeling more horrible than I could ever remember feeling.  Finally we figured out that I had a breast infection.  I did the usual route of a round of antibiotics, which made

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Nursing Mother's Liver Tonic
 
Price$24.50

These herbs have traditionally and successfully been used as gentle liver cleansers, and are all safe for use while breastfeeding.

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Nursing Tea Moringa Blend
 
Price$19.95

May help to increase breastmilk production while helping to ease gas or colic. Great choice for mothers with newborns, or babies with gas or sensitive tummies.

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Nursing Tincture Moringa Blend
 
Price$21.95

May help to increase breastmilk production while helping to ease gas or colic. Great choice for mothers with newborns, or babies with gas or sensitive tummies in the convenient liquid-extract tincture form.

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Poke Root Tincture
 
Price$12.50

Traditionally used to help clear breast infection (mastitis) and plugged ducts. Typically works within 24 hours.

Recommended Reading for Lactation

Nursing Mother’s Companion, by Kathleen Huggins  (includes a great section in the back regarding the safety of drugs during breastfeeding)

Bestfeeding, by Suzanne Arms

Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by La Leche League

Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs, by James J. Rybacki & James W. Long  (has list of 2000 prescription drugs, listing any interactions with herbs and whether safe or not for pregnancy and lactation)

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Relax Tincture
 
Price$15.50

An herbal combination used to calm, soothe and relax the entire body and mind.

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Rescue Remedy
 
Price$12.50

A flower essence combination used to ease stress, anxiety, panic attack, trauma, or fear. Helps to balance the emotions.

Rescue Remedy List & Descriptions


The following Flower Essences are included in the Rescue Remedy combination.   The following is a list of each of their meanings and how they can be of help to you:

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Sage Tea
 
Price$12.50

Traditionally used to dry up or decrease breastmilk. Also helps ease hot flashes in menopausal women.

Sage Tea & Sage Tincture


Sage Tea (or Tincture) is the best herb used to decrease breastmilk production, which is helpful for weaning or when over-production, chronic or frequent engorgement, or plugged ducts is a problem, or in cases of fetal demise. 

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Sage Tincture
 
Price$13.50

Traditionally used to dry up or decrease breastmilk. Also may help alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women.

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Tummy Tincture
 
Price$15.50

Helps ease symptoms of gas, colic, reflux and other digestive complaints including indigestion, nausea, and heartburn.

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Valerian Root Tincture
 
Price$15.50

Traditionally known to be one of the most effective herbs for sleep & relaxation. It is also effective for balancing ADHD.

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Vitex Tincture
 
Price$34.98

Helps to balance the female hormone system, helping to ease PMS symptoms, menopausal symptoms, and helping aid fertility.

Testimonial

First without you and your amazing products I’m not sure I would’ve survived the deep deep dark postpartum depression I experienced with my beautiful fifth baby boy in this past year. The stresses of life had so negatively impacted my breastfeeding and nursing so much that for the first time ever my normally over-productive milk supply was drying up. Your tinctures, teas and supportive words were so helpful. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this nugget with your greater community. So valuable. (She's talking about a video on tapping for increasing breastmilk production found HERE on YouTube.)   My husband and I have been studying the body, mind, wellness and really quantum healing and physics for many years. We’ve learned some other really amazing healing techniques. These, along with your guidance and products saved me from a place no new mama first of fifth time around should ever have to rest in alone.  J.A.