One of the prime concerns of a new mother is whether or not there is enough breastmilk supply for her bub’s hunger to be satiated. Add to that a series of well-wishing friends, relatives and neighbours with their special take on how your breasts don’t look like they are making enough fodder for the calf!
I didn’t need to go too far to get these scathing (and scary) remarks. The fact that my little girl burped and looked happy and would just doze soon after a feed, wasn’t enough for me to chuck these comments aside.
I got so worked up, that I actually went to my doctor and shared my concern whether my breastmilk supply was enough. After rolling her eyes and telling me that I was panicking for nothing, she explained that low breastmilk supply is not a myth. However, not every mum faces that problem. Most often a mum just knows that she is making enough milk for her baby.
Still, if you are worried that you aren’t making enough milk, you could take care of your diet and ensure that your breastmilk supply increases. She shared a list of natural remedies to boost breastmilk supply and not every option was palatable.
So when I came across this article which said that a new Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream flavour could help increase breastmilk supply, how I wished it had come out in the market eight years ago.
Apparently, the 'Oat of this swirled' flavour has galactagogue, a food supposed to increase breastmilk supply. The ingredient is present in oats, which is considered to be one of the common breastmilk increasing food items. Sceptical about having ice-cream as a power food for better breastmilk supply? Here are some foods which are effective in boosting your little one’s nectar:
- Fenugreek seeds: Bitter as they are, fenugreek seeds are a source of healthy vitamins that are good for lactating mums such as omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are important for your baby’s brain development. Fenugreek leaves are rich in beta carotene, B vitamins, iron and calcium.
- Garlic: Among its many therapeutic properties, such as benefitting the immune system and preventing heart disease, garlic is said to help increase breastmilk supply. However, there isn’t much research to back this up.
- Green leafy vegetables: Vegetables such as spinach, fenugreek leaves, mustard greens or lamb’s quarter are believed to enhance lactation. They are also an excellent source of minerals such as iron, calcium and folate, and vitamins such as beta carotene (a form of vitamin A) and riboflavin.
- Cumin seeds: Apart from increasing the breastmilk supply, cumin seeds are said to improve digestion and provide relief from constipation, acidity and bloating. They are also a good source of calcium and riboflavin (a B vitamin).
- Gourd vegetables: Vegetables from the gourd family like bottle gourd, apple gourd, and sponge gourd are traditionally believed to improve milk supply. Not only are these vegetables low in calories and nutritious, they are also easy to digest.
Apart from these, sesame seeds, holy basil, dill seeds, pulses or lentils, as well as nuts are believed to boost breastmilk production. Hopefully, these power foods prove fruitful for nursing mums who believe they need to boost their breastmilk supply. However, it would be better for you to consult your doctor before you start taking these, just so that you know the portions and whether you need these at all.
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