Breastfeeding can be challenging for some nursing mothers. Contrary to public opinion, lactation is not a function of your breast size. Your supply of breastmilk depends on how much time your baby spends sucking the breast, as well as how much fluids you consume. However, there are times when you may feel you're not producing sufficient milk for the baby. You'll need to check your diet. What are you eating? We've put together a list of local foods that increase lactation, based on the recommendation from other nursing moms.
For anything really severe,please don't hesitate to visit a lactation consultant. Your doctor will help you find one.
These are some local foods that increase lactation.
Pap
Some nursing mothers believe that drinking a lot of pap can lead to more breast milk especially if taken early in the morning and late at night. This seems to be the staple food for nursing mothers in Nigeria. There's no doubt something special about this fluid made from maize and sometimes from millet and guinea corn.
Kunu
This is a Northern drink. Its ingredients are grains like guinea corn, millet, tiger nuts and some sweet potatoes. The drink also contains sugar and some ginger.
Pepper Soup
This dish is widely enjoyed all over Nigeria. Nursing mothers are mostly served pepper soup daily because it is supposed to help with lactation. It also helps nourish her after the rigours of childbirth.
Cow Milk
It sort of makes sense that if you need milk, then you should drink milk! The trick is finding healthy pure cow milk. Fulanis boil it and mix it with fura. Fura is a Northern delicacy, known as fura de nunu.
Brown Rice
Apart from the fact that it helps too give the extra energy that is required post-delivery, it also has hormone stimulants that can boost lactation. Switching your white rice for brown rice. Apart from tasting better, it can also help to shed off the extra baby weight.
Oats
Eating oats can actually help your breast milk supply, oats contain saponins in high quantity and they contain are antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, supporting the immune system. But they are also milk-making hormones so, every day add oatmeal to your diet. Oatmeal is wonderful and aids digestion. While it helps control weight gain during pregnancy, it also has amazing lactating properties that can help keep your milk supply flowing.
Brewer’s Yeast
Drinking a bottle of wine once in a while (if you’re a drinker) will help with your milk supply as it helps with milk ejection. The brewer’s yeast in wine contains phytoestrogens, making it a good source of protein and iron. Women who eat nutritional yeast generally have more energy.
Garlic
Garlic is a magical medicinal root, and it also tastes good in your cooking. When eaten in moderation, garlic may have a lactogenic effect which may be because babies like it’s flavour. When cooking, add garlic to your meal, not too much, though. It’s been found that babies nurse more when mothers incorporate garlic into their diet.
Tea
Teas with a combination of galactagogues. There are lactation teas specially designed to help you increase breast milk supply. If you want to take the tea, follow the directions on the package. Other ingredients in the tea include anise seed, red raspberry leaf, marshmallow root, goat’s rue and more. The best teas are the fresh ones made from organic ingredients.
Nuts
They contain a high level of protein and fatty acids and they can go with any diet. Nuts have amino acids which build blocks for serotonin, which is a necessary neurotransmitter for lactation. Almond nuts are the best nuts to improve breast milk supply and if you want something sweet you can go for marzipan.
Mothers who breastfeed exclusively rarely have low milk supply issues especially when they eat healthy. Boost your breast milk supply today by eating these foods.
Share with us in the comments how you combated low milk production.
Resource: Legit NG
Also read: Secrets of the best breastfeeders in the world
