When To Start Drinking Mothers Milk Tea (Everything You Need To Know)

There is nothing as amazing as a mother’s milk tea when it comes to helping a nursing mom increase the quantity of milk supply she wants for her baby.

Looking for a natural and effective way to increase milk supply or to produce more milk for your newborn, then a mother’s milk tea is the answer.

Mothers’ milk teas are made from herbs, and their effectiveness is indescribable, and these herbal teas can be gotten from stores, or better still, you can use the recipe mentioned in this article to prepare them yourself.

Knowing how magical a mother’s milk tea can be, the question going through your mind would be, “When to start drinking mothers milk tea”?

As a nursing mother, the best time to start a mother’s milk tea is a couple of weeks after the baby’s birth, and this is because some of the herbs might have other effects on your body.

Read on as we share everything you need to know about mother’s milk tea when to start, how much to drink and how to prepare the tea.

What is Mother’s Milk Tea?

Have you heard about mother’s milk tea that you have been wondering what it means?

Don’t get it twisted nor loosely translate its meaning, it doesn’t mean tea is meant for mothers or exclusively for mothers. However, if you see it this way, you aren’t wrong.

Mother’s milk tea is a lactation supplement which means it is meant for breastfeeding mothers or lactating mothers.

The essence of its consumption is to increase a nursing mother’s milk supply, and the tea is of herbal origin, meaning it is organic and devoid of synthetic chemicals.

The tea helps to activate hormones in the body in charge of breast milk production and flow, and by these hormones, we are referring to oxytocin and prolactin.

So when a nursing mother with a low milk supply or production of milk consumes this tea, it helps her produce more milk than before.

When To Start Drinking Mothers Milk Tea?

As a nursing mother, the best time to start a mother’s milk tea is a couple of weeks after the baby’s birth, and this is because some of the herbs might have other effects on your body.

We all know that the milk supply of a nursing mother is usually not enough for a baby, and increasing feeding can be an easy and effective solution to low milk supply.

If you have tried increasing the feeding and it is obvious that your baby isn’t getting enough breast milk, then you can fall back to mother’s milk tea which is essentially lactation support for mothers whose milk supply isn’t enough for their babies.

How Should I Drink Mother’s Milk Tea?

There isn’t any general rule on how to take, ingest or consume your mother’s milk tea. It is all about your choice.

If the preferred consumption state of your tea is hot, why not go ahead with it if it is when it is iced, there is no harm going on with it as well. So the choice is yours to make. Savor it as you would like; it is not affected by temperature.

How Much Mother’s Milk Tea Should I Consume to Boost Milk Supply?

Generally, herbal tea for milk supply is brewed like how you would brew regular teas, but it is best advised to follow specific guidelines that come with the product. Like any other teas, mother’s milk teas can also be brewed as a larger batch or one cup at a time.

The tea can be iced and sweetened and contains added flavors too. It is best advised to drink the tea somewhere between 1 and 3 cups each day but consult with your doctor before you down 3 cups.

What are the Signs and Causes of Low Milk Supply?

Breast milk is based on the principle of supply and demand. The more frequently you nurse the baby, the more milk your body produces to replace what the baby has taken.

If your milk supply is on the decrease, you can use a pump, and if you’re not pumping as much as you normally used to, it may be because your baby doesn’t require much as it used to.

If breastfeeding exclusively, always keep an eye on your baby to see if you’ll notice any signs that they’re not getting enough milk. Those signs are:

Insufficient wet or dirty diapers: Sometimes, you’ll notice dark urine in your baby’s diapers, and your baby suddenly has fewer dirty diapers than normal. This sign could indicate that they are not drinking the amount of breast milk they normally use and aren’t digesting enough.
Baby is reluctant to nurse: Babies sometimes may decide to go on nursing strikes. This sign could indicate that they’re not getting enough milk, which makes them fussy and reluctant to nurse.
Long-term inadequate weight gain: If the baby isn’t showing any sign of weight gain, it could indicate that they are not getting enough nutrients or calories from breast milk. Also, the baby’s cheeks may look sucked in while breastfeeding. Remember that every baby is different and will not grow the same. Keep an eye on your baby’s growth, and if you have any concerns, do not hesitate to consult your doctor so they can check on your baby’s progress.
Dehydration: Sometimes, when a baby is dehydrated, it doesn’t always look like excessive thirst. One indication of dehydration is dark-colored urine. Jaundice and lethargy are two other indications that your baby is not getting the necessary nutrients and calories.

If your baby is going through any of these signs, then your baby needs more milk, hence the need to try a lactation supplement to boost your milk supply.

Homemade Mother’s Milk Tea Recipe

To make this tea, you’ll need a properly sealed container, a teapot, or a tea infuser ball. You can purchase most of these ingredients in any natural health food store or online.

Ingredients

Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 cup
Dried nettle leaves – Half cup
Dried red raspberry leaves – Half cup
Fennel seeds – 1/4 cup
Dried lemon verbena – Half cup
Dried blessed thistle – 1/4 cup

Steps

First, make a tea blend by mixing all these ingredients and store the blend in a tightly sealed container until it is ready to use.
For each cup of water, take out one teaspoon of the blend. For each cup you need to make, use an individual tea bag or a tea infuser ball. If the teapot is what you’re using, ensure you measure out the blends according to the number of cups of water you plan to use.
Use about 1.5 cups of water in a teapot and then allow it to boil. Add one teaspoon of mixed herbs and let the herbs infuse in the water while letting the tea steep for 5-10 minutes. Then bring out the infuser or tea bag and drink the tea! You can drink three cups of tea daily for the best possible effect.

It is recommended to make more of the mother milk tea blend, store it in a tightly sealed container, and use it as and when required.

The organic mother milk tea flavor is sweet, spicy, and herbaceous, but if you’re not comfortable with the taste, you could drink it with a lemon wedge or apple juice.

How Much Time Does It Take for Mother’s Milk Tea to Start Working?

There isn’t any particular or stipulated time that is generalized for anything biological to start working; instead, a range is given, and in the case of mothers’ milk, it is not an exception.

Mother’s milk tea usually begins to work within 24 hours but can take up to 48-72 hours to see results. Drinking 2-3 cups per day is recommended to see results.

Ingredients Used for Preparing Mother’s Milk Tea

Here are some of the common herbs found in every mother milk tea or lactation tea:

1. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

This is a common herb used in preparing mother’s milk teas. Some scientific studies on this herb show that it helps boost milk production.

However, there’s a need for more studies to confirm truly if fenugreek and fenugreek tea are completely safe and help with milk production.

Note:

This herb is strictly not recommended during pregnancy as it is known to cause uterine contractions. Fenugreek may also affect women with hormone-sensitive cancers as the herb might act like estrogen.

2. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

This herb is known to increase milk volume,, but there are no scientific studies to prove that fennel or tea may help with milk production.

3. Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)

This herb is commonly used for digestive issues; blessed thistle is also a part of mother’s milk tea. However, there is not enough scientific data to prove these herbs help increase milk supply.

4. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Stinging nettle is rich in antioxidants and vital nutrients and is thought to lower blood pressure and inflammation. Although it is not recommended for pregnant women, there is anecdotal evidence about the ability of the herb to boost milk production.

5. Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

This herb has been around for many years and is very popular for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but the herb does not have enough research on humans.

Though its side effects are fewer, it is best advised to always consult with your doctor to see if it is good for you and your baby.

6. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Milk Thistle is another wonderful herb thought to be good for the human brain, bones, and liver.

However, like other herbs, there’s not enough scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of this herb. And due to the lack of proper research on the side effects, pregnant women are generally advised to avoid consuming such herbs.

7. Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)

This herb is very rich in magnesium and Vitamin B, is an important ingredient of the tea, and is known to increase milk supply.

8. Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis)

Goat’s rue is said to be very beneficial for the adrenal gland, liver, and digestion, and its potential benefits in lactation. Though there is little research on this herb, it is believed to be a well-tolerated herb.

Other Ingredients includes

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is rich in polysaccharides that stimulate prolactin.
Torbangun leaves (Coleus amboinicus Lour) are best known for their functions of stimulating the proliferation of secretory mammary cells.

Is Mother’s Milk Tea Safe for the Mother and Baby?

Because there is a lack of research on these products, the effects and their use in lactation tea are unclear.

Some of these herbs might be safe for you, but all possible side effects of different herbs are still unknown, especially for women undergoing breastfeeding and pregnancy phases.

Therefore, it is best advised to consult your doctor about lactation tea or any herbal-based products before you start drinking herbal tea to increase your breast milk supply.

If you decide to drink herbal blends, you must ensure that you avoid certain herbs that are considered unsafe for the mother and the baby while breastfeeding.

Always be in touch with the doctor for the up-to-date list of unsafe and safe herbal products that can be consumed by breastfeeding mothers.

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Conclusion

We hope this article has given in-depth knowledge to answer your question of when to start drinking mothers milk tea.

As recommended, mother’s milk teas should be your go-to supplement when you realize your milk supply is low.

When properly consumed and used in synergy with increased feeding times, you will notice a tremendous improvement in your milk supply.

Your mother’s milk tea is available in your local store, where you can purchase a favorite blend, or you can as well make your own to give you the added support for optimal milk supply.

And also, before you fall back to mothers’ milk tea, you have to ensure that your baby isn’t getting enough supply of breast milk by following the signs listed above. If you discover that there is a need for increased production of milk, then it’s recommended to add a lactation tea to your diet a few times a day to help increase your milk supply.