{"id":213747,"date":"2025-10-02T12:53:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T11:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=condition&p=213747"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:44:13","slug":"breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"condition","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/condition\/breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Breastfeeding can present many challenges, including sore and cracked nipples, insufficient milk, engorgement and mastitis. This article shares herbal and holistic solutions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding breastfeeding<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>
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\"Breastfeeding\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For some women breastfeeding may come easily and feel satisfying. For others it may be stressful, difficult and uncomfortable. It is a skill that can take significant patience and effort to establish and can easily be abandoned with a switch to formula and bottle feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast milk is generally regarded as the ideal food for babies. As well as providing the correct balance of nutrients, it contains antibodies from the mother that can help protect against common infections. Breast-fed babies are less likely to be hospitalised with diarrhoea and vomiting, and reports suggest that it can also lower the likelihood of obesity and cardiovascular disease in later life (1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are benefits for the mother, too. Apart from encouraging bonding, it can help speed up the process of shrinking the womb back to its pre-pregnancy size (uterine involution), help the mother regain her pre-pregnancy weight and reduce the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in later life (2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting breastfeeding needs support from healthcare professionals so that the mother knows how to position her baby so that it latches onto her breast easily and successfully, so that the process becomes comfortable and enjoyable for both of them. The La Leche League (3), also offers help, via a network of local groups, as well as online by social media or telephone, to help women with breastfeeding difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first weeks of life, breast-fed newborns need to feed eight to 12 times in every 24 hours. For mothers of premature babies expressing milk will ensure a continuing supply once the baby is home, while regular feeds also encourage further lactation. Hospital staff that claim a woman is producing insufficient milk and insist on formula top-ups can severely damage a new mother\u2019s confidence in her ability to feed her baby successfully once she is home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is generally recommended to continue breastfeeding for six months even when supplemented with additional solids.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Effective breastfeeding<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>
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\"Breastfeeding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ability to produce milk (lactation) starts in mid-pregnancy as the breasts begin to enlarge ready to secrete milk. The hormone prolactin is primarily responsible for milk production (lactation), stimulating the mammary glands to produce milk. Levels of the hormone increase during pregnancy and when, after the birth, levels of the hormone progesterone fall, prolactin and the suckling stimulus trigger actual milk production. Once lactation starts, as long as suckling continues milk will be produced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first secretion produced is called colostrum and contains more minerals, proteins, and vitamins A and K than later milk. It also contains antibodies, which specifically help to protect the mucous membranes lining the baby\u2019s throat, lungs and digestive tract from infections, and also various growth factors that help with physiological development. Within a few days a high-protein milk begins to be produced instead in much larger quantities than the colostrum. This levels off after about day nine with a regular volume maintained by regular feeds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why things go wrong<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>
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Often the main problem is actually getting started; finding a comfortable, relaxed position for holding the baby and latching on successfully. An adequate milk supply with the breasts drained of milk at each feed requires the mother to have good nutrition and enough energy to cope with a newborn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What she eats not only impacts the quantity of milk she can produce, but also its taste. Spicy and pungent foods \u2014 such as chili and garlic \u2014 do give a flavour to breast milk; this might help the child be more willing to enjoy these tastes in later life. However, if they suddenly object to taking milk they had previously enjoyed, it is always worth checking on any recent food eaten by the mother that they might be objecting to. Other common issues with breastfeeding are covered in the next section.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Common issues with breastfeeding<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>
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\"Young<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Insufficient milk <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insufficient milk can be related to inadequate nutrition, lack of rest or stress; although, some women are just naturally short of milk and find breastfeeding a problem in successive pregnancies. Large babies can also prove very demanding and it may be necessary to supplement feeds from an early age. Advice changes but a few years ago it was certainly common for health visitors to recommend solids for larger babies from six weeks. Typical signs of insufficient milk can include a baby that has delayed bowel movements, decreased urination, weight loss and lethargy. Good maternal nutrition is vital \u2014 women need an additional 500 calories a-day when breastfeeding.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Engorgement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engorgement is commonest in the first five days after the birth. The milk may \u201ccome in\u201d suddenly in a rush, and be far in excess of baby\u2019s needs. Breasts that are over-full can feel hard, tight and painful. \u201cLittle and often\u201d is generally the solution \u2013 increasing the frequency of the baby\u2019s feeds will generally help to keep the problem under control. Help can be needed to ensure that the baby is well-attached \u2014 which can be difficult if the nipple is overstretched and painful \u2014 midwives or health visitors can offer assistance. A little excess milk can also be expressed by hand. A warm compress will help encourage milk flow when expressing the surplus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mastitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue. It can be very painful with lumpy tender breasts, hard or swollen areas, possibly a discharge from the nipple and the risk of feverish symptoms, which may need antibiotic treatment. The cause is often a blocked milk duct. Symptoms generally ease within 12\u201324 hours but seek medical help if they persist. In some cases an accumulation of milk in the breast can lead to bacterial infection and in severe acute cases an abscess may form which may need surgical incision to drain pus. Herbs that can help are included in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blocked ducts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blocked ducts are associated with insufficient drainage possibly due to excess milk, poor latching by the baby, feeding from one breast more often than the other, long periods between feeds or milk being left in the breast after a short feed. The baby may reject the breast as the milk flow is restricted and the breast becomes engorged or results in mastitis. If the breast is not drained of milk by the end of a feed, expressing any surplus may help prevent a blockage developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sore nipples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sore nipples are commonplace and generally caused by poor positioning of the baby, although they may also be due to sensitivity to the baby\u2019s sucking. Sore nipples are the commonest reason for giving up breast feeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracked nipples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cracked nipples, often related to candida infection (thrush) can also be a problem \u2014 especially if the baby is affected as well (usually signified by a white patches, on gums or the tongue that do not easily wipe off). It can become a persistent problem unless the infection is completely cleared. Typical symptoms include pain in both breasts, which is worse after feeds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Herbs for healthy breastfeeding<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>
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Herbs to encourage milk production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many herbs have traditionally been used to encourage milk production (known as galactagogues). The list includes <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Centaury<\/a>
Centaury (Centaurium erythraea<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n