
Written by Editorial Team
One of the reasons why most mothers opt for formula milk is because of their low supply of milk. And they obviously do not wish to see their baby go hungry. So, if you are a breastfeeding mother and you find yourself low on milk supply, keep this in your mind. There are certain foods that you can consume and certain foods that you should stay away from to increase your milk supply. On the top of the must-have list of foods to increase breast milk supply are Fennel seeds as they contain natural properties that promote lactation. Using fennel seeds while breastfeeding is an excellent remedy.
For every new mother, feeding her newborn baby is the most blissful feeling ever after undergoing all the pain from her labor. The minute she holds her newborn baby in her arms, she forgets all the labor trauma she underwent just sometime back. It is also one of her deepest wishes that she provides very nutritious breast milk for her baby for as long as she can. For this, the milk supply needs to be good and free-flowing whenever the baby demands it. Having a low supply of breast milk can make the baby hungry even after a feeding session leading to an unsatisfied baby and an even unhappier mother. Here is some information about fennel that will help you understand its effects on lactation.
In This Article
Fennel seeds are obtained from a flowering plant called Foeniculum Vulgare and are one of the popular spices and herbs used across various cuisines around the world. In India, it is popularly known as Saunf and is used as an after-meal digestive.
Fennel has so many uses in cooking. Powdered fennel is used for flavoring. Fennel oil and fennel seeds are infused with boiled water to aid digestion and also to make flavored teas.
Fennel seeds contain galactagogue properties, which means they help in increasing the supply of breast milk. As per research, it is found that fennel seeds helped to significantly increase milk supply and are also known to provide relief from pain in the female genitalia and abdomen.
The estrogen level has a significant role in breast milk production. When the estrogen level falls, the breast milk also gets reduced. Therefore, after delivery, the estrogen levels need to be boosted. Fennel contains phytoestrogens, which is similar to the estrogen hormone.
Fennel seeds contain a chemical compound known as Anethole, which is very much similar to Dopamine in the human brain. Prolactin, which is the hormone that incites breast milk production, when comes in contact with dopamine, becomes ineffective, thereby, affecting breast milk production.
Here Anethole in the fennel seeds helps. As it is similar to dopamine, it binds with the prolactin hormone before dopamine does. This binding will not affect the milk supply as dopamine does. Hence, there will be a natural increase in the supply of breast milk.
There are many ways in which fennel can be consumed to increase milk supply;
There has been no proven research that states any side effects of consuming fennel either for the baby or the mother. This is because it is a natural food source and does not cause any problems while breastfeeding. However, it is best to check with your doctor before consuming as your doctor will know your health better.
However, overconsumption of fennel during breastfeeding can bring about some unintended side effects, and it even may decrease breast milk production. Therefore, we recommend consuming fennel seeds with proper medical advice.
There are several benefits of consuming fennel:
There are certain situations when it is best to avoid fennels:
Fennel has been a trusted source of food to increase breast milk supply in lactating mothers for centuries together. However, you must keep a check on the quantity consumed as anything excess, even if natural, is not advisable. Therefore, having it in its various forms every in small quantity is the key to promote milk supply and also to keep your baby strong and healthy!
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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