Tea to Support Lactation

A journey that begins as painful and frustrating can become a truly wonderful bonding experience later. Be kind to yourself during this process. Seek out:

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• Community -  local &/or online groups, such as those found in the Communitea Resources section

• Remedies that help you, including:

  • Getting as much skin-on-skin time with your baby as you can - this stimulates milk production. If possible, the baby should be placed on mama directly after birth & allowed to get as much skin-on-skin time as possible in those early days.

  • Use a warm compress & gently massage your breasts to help stimulate milk flow as well as encourage the movement of qi in the breasts.

  • Nipple guards can help women who are experiencing pain while nursing.

  • Allow nipples to air dry as much as possible (this is not a time to be modest!). 

  • Calendula may be used as an oil extract on cracked, sore nipples. Talk to your trusted herbalist about calendula, almond oil & other herbal salves.

  • Never use essential oils directly on yourself or baby, these can be toxic.

  • Gently pat nipples with room temp water if you have used salve, ointment or anything on the nipple, as taste may be a turn-off from the breast for the baby. 

  • Nourishment & hydration are profoundly important. In TOM, breast milk is made from the mother’s blood, the manufacture of which is dependent on the energy of the digestive organ (the spleen in TOM). Hence, diet is a hugely important factor in producing breast milk. In Asian cultures, food is medicine & there are many herbs used as decoctions, soups & in everyday food to nourish & support mama during the convalescent period, a nourished mama is a nourished baby & vice-a-versa. This has inspired Serendipitea’s postpartum soup mix. 

  • Using herbs while breastfeeding is largely safe, but ALWAYS check with your trusted herbalist before taking herbal medicine.

  • Try our blended MilkiTea to encourage & support milk production

Sometimes breastfeeding simply does not work out, and that’s ok - “fed is best” tops “breast is best”! It can be difficult, even emotionally devastating, to accept but do not feel bad about this or put yourself under stress to produce milk. Your baby will develop perfectly well with alternative milk. You can take your power back and make your own, nourishing formula that has all the essentials for a developing baby - we like the recipe from the Weston Price foundation found here. What baby needs most is adequate nutrition and a calm, healthy mama.