If you’re having trouble with breast milk production, lactation supplements may help. But how do you choose the best one? Asking your doctor is a good start. Breastfeeding is important for bonding, but it can be challenging for some moms. From damaged nipples to inadequate milk production, there are many difficulties that can arise.
While not everyone likes to take supplements, lactation supplements can be a game-changer. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top lactation supplements and provide a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best one.
Our Top Picks
- Best All-In-One: Pink Stork Total Lactation
- Best Medicinal-Herb: Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Women’s Tea
- Best Absorption: New Chapter Postnatal Vitamins Lactation Supplement
- Easiest To Consume: Lactation Supplement Breastfeeding Support Liquid
- Best To Increase Milk Supply: Munchkin Milkmakers Lactation Drink
- Great Vegan Option: Gaia Herbs Lactation Support
- Best Organic: Oregon’s Wild Harvest Herbal Supplement
- Most Delicious: UpSpring Milkflow Lactation Supplement
- Most Convenient: Mommy Knows Best Goat’s Rue
- Best Oat: Brewer’s Yeast Powder for Lactation
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Lactation Supplements Picks
Pink Stork Total Lactation – Best All-In-One
- Good ingredients
- Little taste/aftertaste
- Increases milk supply
- Works as intended
- Pricey compared to other supplements
If you’re a breastfeeding mom, you know how important it is to keep your milk flowing and nutritious for your little one. That’s where this fantastic vitamin supplement comes in! It’s specially designed with natural herbs called galactagogues that can help boost milk production, nutrition, flow, and even flavor.
Plus, it’s free from all sorts of unwanted ingredients like GMOs, dairy, soy, and gluten, making it an excellent choice for moms with dietary restrictions. With powerful galactagogues like fenugreek, blessed thistle, fennel, and alfalfa included, this supplement has everything you need to achieve your breastfeeding goals.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Women’s Tea – Best Medicinal-Herb
- It has a strong licorice flavor
- Works like a charm to incrementally increase and maintain production
- Taste very good
- Great to mix with milk or honey
- Has a strong taste
This herbal tea is like a magical elixir that can support you in your nursing journey. It’s a blend of herbs that have been used for centuries to help increase breast milk production and nourish both you and your baby.
The tea is made with fennel, anise, coriander, and fenugreek, all of which are known to be galactagogues or herbs that promote lactation. Not only does it help with milk production, but it also has a delicious licorice-like flavor that’s both sweet and spicy.
New Chapter Postnatal Vitamins Lactation Supplement – Best Absorption
- Works almost immediately
- Doesn’t make you nauseous
- Pills aren’t too big, the average size for a multivitamin
- Worth the price
- You need to take 3 daily
This 3-in-1 formula combines multivitamins, multimineral, and multiherbal probiotic-fermented supplements to support you every step of the way. This expertly crafted formula is designed to provide continuous nutritional support for busy moms like you, with added lactation support for nursing mothers. They carefully selected the highest quality vitamins and minerals that work best with your body and ferment them with probiotics and whole foods for optimal absorption.
Lactation Supplement Breastfeeding Support Liquid – Easiest To Consume
- The taste is very pleasant and kind of sweet
- Easy to ingest
- The taste doesn’t linger very long
- Works as intended
- Sometimes gives the baby gas
Don’t you want only the best for your baby? Of course, you do. To make sure you’re getting the most out of your motherly instincts and making the best baby food possible, this formula uses only certified organic herbs.
Note that fenugreek is the focus of practically every other product on the market. This one, however, includes five potent herbs that have been meticulously isolated. Some of them, like moringa, aren’t even included in other lactation supplements!
The drops are high-quality, powerful, and distinctive. They have superior absorption and are clear of junk. Since encapsulation is not required, there is also no need to add the fillers that are present in 99% of capsules. These drops are completely free of GMOs, sugar, alcohol, and fillers and they can be added to a glass of juice or water.
Munchkin Milkmakers Lactation Drink – Best To Increase Milk Supply
- Provides vitamin B, Collagen, Fenugreek & Milk Thistle
- Gluten-free
- The lemonade berry taste is great
- Good to have dietary supplement
- It is a little sugary
These convenient packets are packed with everything a nursing mom needs, including skin-nourishing collagen and B vitamins for an energy boost.
With traditional lactation aids like fenugreek, fennel, and milk thistle, this mix can help promote a healthy milk supply while also reducing sugar and calorie content. Feeling creative? Mix up some lactation lemonade with these packets when life hands you lemons (or low milk supply)!
Just keep in mind that the collagen can make the mix a bit thick, so if you’re having trouble stirring, try diluting it with hot water and adding ice to chill it. Each box contains 14 single-serve sachets, making them perfect for travel or use at home. With only 35 calories and 6g of sugar per serving, you can feel good about indulging in this tasty and beneficial drink mix.
Gaia Herbs Lactation Support – Great Vegan Option
- Slight increase in milk production
- Does not have a strong smell/taste
- Works great
- Easy to take
- A bit pricey compared to other
This herbal supplement contains certified organic herbs such as fenugreek and red raspberry leaf, which naturally include beneficial nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and B vitamins. Whether you’re at home or on the go, this convenient pill will support your milk production so you can feel confident and nourished. As an added bonus, it’s a pure vegan option!
Oregon’s Wild Harvest Herbal Supplement – Best Organic
- No unnecessary additives or fillers
- Works well
- Easy to swallow
- Affordable
- Has a bit of a scent
This supplement comes with a whopping 90 herbal supplement pills that are made from certified organic herbs. And because it’s entirely vegetarian, free of GMOs, and made with all-natural ingredients, you can feel confident in what you’re putting into your body. Plus, the low oxygen permeability of the packaging helps keep it fresh for longer.
UpSpring Milkflow Lactation Supplement – Most Delicious
- Tastes fine if you mix it with juice, not water
- Tastes better than the traditional tea
- Quick to prepare and drink on-the-go
- Uses herbs that have been proven to increase milk production in most women
- Better in cold water
The organic ingredients in this supplement promote the production of breast milk and are entirely safe and healthy for mom and baby. With its delightful berry flavor, this milk production supplement is a refreshing treat that is easy to incorporate into your daily routine, it is also very delicious.
The non-GMO and gluten-free formula ensures that you’re only consuming the best ingredients. UpSpring’s lactation supplement is made with three organic herbal ingredients that have been shown to boost breast milk production by naturally enhancing the hormones responsible for milk production.
Mommy Knows Best Goat’s Rue – Most Convenient
- They don’t make babies gassy
- Competitive price
- Works well
- Helpful in increasing the supply
- Must not drink water a couple of minutes before and after taking it
Goat’s rue, a plant that grows year after year in Southern Europe, has been used as a galactagogue for hundreds of years and is still highly valued for its benefits to nursing mothers throughout much of Europe today. Dried goat’s rue leaves are used along with other breastfeeding-promoting herbs to create drinks that support a strong foundation of breast milk.
Best of all, there’s no need for baking or cooking – just take one capsule four times a day for maximum effectiveness! For busy moms who can’t spare the time to bake their own bread every week, these supplements are a fantastic option.
Brewer’s Yeast Powder for Lactation – Best Oat
- Very mild
- It is easy to measure
- Easy to store
- Great taste
- Has a slight bitterness
Packed with nutrients like iron, B vitamins, protein, chromium, and selenium, this supplement can give your body the boost it needs to produce more milk.
Brewer’s yeast can be added to a variety of delicious homemade treats like lactation cookies, smoothies, granola, and porridge. And don’t worry about the bitter taste – Oat Mama has debittered the yeast to make it more palatable. Plus, they even provide a recipe for lactation chocolate chip cookies on the packaging, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth while boosting your milk supply!
How To Choose A Lactation Supplement?
- Ingredients: Check the health supplements’ ingredient list. If you have a sensitive stomach, stay away from fenugreek and use tablets free of it. Additionally, fennel can increase milk production. However, stay away from ingredients that make you allergic to them or that are inappropriate for your other medical problems. Consider nettle as a dietary addition if you are dealing with anemia due to its high iron content (1).
- Amount: To improve their supply, some women take multiple vitamins each day. However, it would be preferable to start with one and gauge its efficacy before introducing a plethora of galactagogues into your daily routine. If you still aren’t producing enough milk, you could find that one is sufficient or you might want to add one or two more.
- Prescription: Never use supplements without checking the ingredients list or getting a doctor’s okay. Always take into account any supplements your doctor may suggest, in light of their testing and safety.
- Dosage: Make sure to follow the recommended dosage on the supplement bottle. There is no need to go above the recommended dose of 3 or 4 for example.
How Do Lactation Supplements Work?
There are a number of lactation supplements available on the market, and many of them claim to increase prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone that is essential for breast milk production, so increasing its levels could theoretically help increase milk supply (2).
However, there are other factors that can affect milk supply, and simply taking a supplement may not be enough to make a significant difference. Additionally, it’s important to make sure you are regularly emptying both breasts, either through breastfeeding or pumping. This will help signal your body to produce more milk. Finally, be sure to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated, as both of these can also impact milk production.
Can I Take Lactation Supplements While Pregnant?
If you’re pregnant and thinking about taking lactation supplements, it’s important to first consult with your doctor. Fenugreek is one herb that pregnant women should avoid taking.
Do Lactation Supplements Really Work?
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that they may help increase milk production, but more research is needed to confirm this. If you’re considering taking a lactation supplement, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider first to make sure it’s safe for you and your baby.
When Should You Start Taking Lactation Supplements?
Many expectant mothers frequently see colostrum around the time of delivery, but some may not see any milk for three to five days after giving birth. So, if you notice that you aren’t making enough milk right away after your baby is born, don’t become alarmed. Consult your doctor before having your breasts examined. Only when you have resumed nursing regularly and are still having trouble producing enough milk may your doctor recommend supplements.
What Are Some Possible Side Effects Of Lactation Supplements?
There are a few possible side effects of taking lactation supplements. These include an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, and bloating. Some women may also experience increased anxiety or jitteriness. If you experience any of these side effects, you should stop taking the supplement and talk to your doctor. Additionally, Fenugreek aids in increasing milk production; however, when given to newborns through breast milk, it might induce diarrhea (3). It also reduces blood sugar levels and might make parents’ urine smell.
Can Lactation Supplements Cause Constipation?
Lactation supplements are commonly used to help nursing mothers increase their milk supply. However, some women may experience constipation when taking these supplements. Try consuming extra water and fiber-rich meals like fruits and vegetables. Additionally, coffee and tea are recognized laxatives and may aggravate constipation, so they should be avoided when nursing.
