These 8 Indian Kitchen Foods Can Help Breastfeeding Moms

Breast milk is the best food for babies as it is custom-made to suit the nutritional needs of your baby. Breastfeeding or lactation also aids the mothers’ well being. Although most women lactate well, there are cases where women find themselves unable to lactate or there is insufficient breast milk that recedes as the initial phase passes. Nursing women may find it worrisome if they are not producing enough breast milk to support their baby’s daily feeding requirements. New moms can refer to this article for foods to increase breast milk.

Reasons For Low Breast Milk Supply

• Excess interfering medication
• Certain illnesses
• Stress
• Hormonal imbalance
• Sucking difficulties
• Not feeding at night
• Supplementing with formula

In most cases, new mothers can increase the supply of breast milk using simple home remedies. Unless there is a medical problem, wherein your body is unfit to produce breast milk or your doctor advises you so, you can try these home remedies to increase the supply of breast milk.

You may also like: 11 Superfoods You Should have while Breastfeeding

8 Indian Kitchen Foods To Increase Breast Milk Production

#1. Fenugreek (Methi)

Image Source: Dr. Axe

The humble Indian ‘methi dana’ is grandma’s medicine for increasing breast milk.

How To Use Fenugreek?

• Soak one tbsp of seeds in a cup of water overnight. Next morning boil this water with seeds in for 5-7 minutes and drink.
• It’s not tasty but yields miraculous results. Traditional methi ladoos are also made for this same purpose

#2. Superfoods

Fennel seeds (saunf), cumin seeds, black sesame seeds, garlic and cinnamon when used in your daily food can augment lactation as they are excellent galactagogues.

• Fennel also aids digestion in mothers and offers relief from colic in infants.
• Cinnamon is known to delay menstruation, as it causes lactation. Cinnamon and garlic lend their special taste to breast milk, which babies like.
• The black sesame seeds, on the other hand, are an excellent source of calcium.

How To Use Superfoods?

Mix a pinch of powdered cinnamon with honey and warm milk or water twice a day for better results. Soak fennel seeds in a cup of hot water for 30 minutes and drink it up twice daily. Also, include roasted fennel in your daily cooking. Garlic can be eaten raw or added to your everyday meals. However, having 1-2 raw garlic pods right before feeding time can help increase breast milk supply.

#3. Drumsticks

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A very common ingredient of various South Indian dishes, drumsticks are full of nutrients and help to boost the supply of breast milk in women. It helps the veins of the breast to open up and stimulates the mammary glands, thus leading to increased milk supply.

How To Use Drumsticks?

The best way to include them in your diet is to have drumsticks soup and juice.

This might also interest you: Breastfeeding Guide for the first month of baby

#4. Holy Basil

Basil or tulsi is a traditional herb and has been used to boost milk supply in women since times immemorial. Loaded with niacin, iron, thiamine and carotene, it helps to protect the mother and her baby from various diseases and infections.

How to use basil?
Just prepare a tulsi tea and drink it twice daily after childbirth.

#5. Brown Rice

Image Source: martha stewart

Brown rice is rich in fiber, healthier than white rice and contain hormone stimulants which boost the supply of breast milk in lactating women. They lift your mood, help to maintain blood sugar levels and increase the appetite.

How To Use Brown Rice?
Just replace brown rice in place of white rice.

#6. Barley

Barley or jau is a whole grain which is loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help in producing milk. It also provides the nursing mother with the much-needed energy to breastfeed.

How To Use Barley?
Jau ki roti or barley soup are good ways to include it in the diet.

#7. Bottle Gourd

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Bottle gourd is one of the most nutritious vegetables that you can include in your diet while breastfeeding. It has a high water content and lots of fiber so it gets digested easily. It aids in lactation and also keeps the mother’s body hydrated.

How to use bottle gourd?

• Bottle gourd or lauki vegetable or lauki kofta curry can be eaten for lunch or dinner.
• You can also drink a glass of fresh bottle gourd juice.
• It is very common to add lauki to raita, kheer and kulfi.

Also read: 7 Reasons why babies cry or act hungry even after breastfeeding – we have solutions too

#8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is loaded with iron and the presence of fiber makes it very easy to digest. It makes a filling breakfast and also helps to boost milk supply in women. It is one of the easiest things to find when it comes to foods to increase breast milk.

How To Use Oatmeal?

• You can eat oatmeal porridge for breakfast or have an oats smoothie.
• Oats idli and oats poha are also great breakfast/snack options.
• Another great way to eat oats is to have oats cookies.

Other Tips To Boost Breast Milk Supply

#1. Relax

A free and rested mind lets the body behave and respond well to situations and in this case, adequate lactation. Avoid stress since it affects your productivity adversely.

#2. Drink Lots Of Liquids

As you are breastfeeding your baby often, so you need to stay hydrated. Drink lots of liquids including water, coconut water, milk, lemonade and buttermilk since these will quench your thirst and help the breasts to produce adequate quantity of milk.

#3. Stay Nourished

Eat a diet high in calcium and proteins. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, lentils, spinach and beet leaves, carrots, apricots and asparagus so increase the quantity and quality of your milk.

#4. Warm Compresses

If you’re not lactating enough and are experiencing pain then try compressing breasts with warm water pads evenly. Rotate and relax. Do this often. It could be due to engorged breasts. Also in case of cracked nipples, clarified butter (Desi ghee) or breast milk works best to heal faster and is safer than ointments even for the baby.

Hope the above tips are helpful. If you know any other home remedies for increasing breast milk supply, do share with us!

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