Foods that Reduce Milk Production | Key Tips

Breastfeeding is essential for giving your baby the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. And as a first-time mother, you always have questions about what foods that reduce milk production. Knowing this can help you make better choices to keep your milk flowing well.

Does your Foods Affect your Breast Milk Production?

Yes, the foods you eat can affect your breast milk supply. What you put into your body affects the milk you produce. Eating a balanced diet with lots of nutrients is important to keep your milk supply strong. Focus on eating protein-rich foods like lean meats, eggs, dairy, beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in your diet.

Eating different kinds of foods while breastfeeding can change the flavor of your milk, which helps your baby get used to different tastes and accept solid foods more easily later on. You also need to eat a little more, 300 to 400 calories a day, to give you energy and nutrition to produce milk.

What to Avoid: Foods that Lower Milk Supply

While there are a lot of foods that can increase and help have strong breastmilk production, there are foods that decrease milk production. But please note, there are no certain foods you should not eat while breastfeeding; rather you should limit the intake. Here’s the list of foods that lower milk production that you should limit and avoid:

• Alcohol - Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding isn’t safe and can make it harder for your baby to latch and feed properly. It takes about two to three hours for one drink, like beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of liquor, to leave your breast milk. It also causes dehydration, which can affect your milk supply. You should pump milk before drinking to have some ready for your baby.
• Caffeine - Caffeine can affect your milk supply too. Do not drink more than 2 to 3 cups of coffee or other caffeinated drinks a day because it can lead to dehydration, and it is important for breastfeeding moms to stay hydrated as dehydration might reduce milk production. Caffeine can also make your baby fussy and interrupt their sleep.
• Sage - Sage has some health benefits, but it is best to avoid it if you’re trying to increase milk production since it is often used for weaning moms or to reduce an overabundant milk supply. Sage can be found in foods like sausage and dressings.
• Supplements (Vitamin C & B) - excessive vitamin C and B might reduce your milk production. Your body needs a balanced amount of vitamins, and too much can interfere with your milk supply.
• Peppermint - In some breastfeeding mothers, peppermint can lower breast milk production when eaten in large amounts. Peppermint is used by mothers as a natural way to reduce milk production.

Other Foods to Avoid During Breastfeeding:

It’s important to be mindful of what you eat, and some foods can affect both your baby and your milk supply. Here’s the list of other foods to avoid during breastfeeding:

• Fish: Fish has important nutrients called omega-3 fatty acids that help both you and your baby’s brain grow and stay healthy. But some fish, like swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish, have too much mercury, a harmful metal that can hurt your baby’s developing brain and nerves. Mercury can get into your breast milk, so it’s best to avoid these fish. Instead, choose fish that are safer, like salmon, sardines, or trout, which still have lots of omega-3s but less mercury.
• Artificial Sweeteners: Some artificial sweeteners, like saccharin, can go into your breast milk. Even though there isn’t enough research on how safe these sweeteners are for breastfeeding babies, many experts say it's better to avoid them because we don’t fully know how they affect babies. Safer options include natural sweeteners like honey (only for moms, not for babies under 1 year), maple syrup, or fruit-based sweeteners.
• Soy Products: Some babies might react to soy proteins that pass through breast milk, similar to how they might react to dairy. This can cause symptoms like gas, fussiness, or tummy troubles. Since soy is in many processed foods, it can be hard to avoid. If you think soy is making your baby uncomfortable, you might want to try cutting it out of your diet to see if it helps.

Does Salt Intake Affect Breast Milk Supply?

Salt could affect your hydration levels. High salt intake might make you feel more thirsty, leading to dehydration if you don’t drink enough water.

However, according to a study, salt intake does not significantly affect breast milk supply. It has been found that the amount of sodium or potassium in breast milk remains stable regardless of how much salt you eat and does not have a big effect on your breast milk.

It’s best to drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid excessive amounts of salty foods.

Does Strong Flavor Food Affect Milk Production?

Strong-flavored foods, like garlic, onions, or spicy dishes, do not typically affect your milk production. However, they can change the taste of breast milk, which some babies might notice. Most babies adapt to these flavor changes, and in some cases, being exposed to different tastes through breast milk might help them be more accepting of new foods when your baby starts eating solids, and some might even enjoy the variety of foods.

Should I Avoid Potential Food Allergens while Breastfeeding?

You should not avoid any food allergens while breastfeeding as it is not recommended to prevent allergies, but your baby can develop allergies from the foods you are eating. If your baby has developed allergy symptoms, you should avoid and remove it from your diet after you consult your health care provider.

Common foods that can cause allergies are dairy, eggs, nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat. The food allergy symptoms are diarrhea, bloody stool, vomiting, colic, eczema, constipation, and poor growth.

What else can I do to Maintain a Milk Supply?

Maintaining a good milk supply can be key for breastfeeding or pumping. Here are some simple tips to help keep your milk flowing:

1. Pump frequently: The more often you pump, the more milk your body will produce. You should aim to pump or breastfeed every two to three hours, including the night if possible.

When pumping, use the right setting and ensure your pump parts are in good condition. A double pump can be more efficient for boosting milk supply. If you find your supply is still low, consider adding extra pumping sessions throughout the day to signal your body to produce more milk.

You might also try power pumping, which involves pumping for short periods with breaks in between to mimic cluster feeding. For example, you could pump for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and then pump again for another 20 minutes. This technique can help stimulate milk production with the help of the right breast pump for you, like Momcozy M9.

Momcozy M9 has 3rd generation pump motor that delivers powerful suction up to 300mmHg, designed to help maximize output. This high level of suction strength ensures efficient milk expression, making it easier to collect more milk in less time. The enhanced motor is built to provide the optimal suction needed to stimulate milk flow and boost production. Here are more features of the Momcozy M9:

• An app to control the breast pump without drawing attention. This app allows you to adjust your settings.
• It has customizable pumping settings. The Momcozy app lets you switch between different pumping modes to suit your comfort and increase your milk supply.
• You can personalize alerts and notifications.
• You can track the milk volume you produce. Each session’s milk expression amount can be recorded and monitored.

2. Ensure good latch: A good latch can help them to get more milk and stimulate more production.
3. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Being well-hydrated helps you increase milk production.
4. Eat a balanced diet: Eating a variety of nutritious foods that can support your milk supply. Focus on foods high in protein, healthy fats, and whole grains, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats.
5. Rest and manage stress: Try to get enough sleep and manage stress as much as you can. Stress and fatigue can negatively impact milk production.
6. Use galactagogues: Some foods and herbs are believed to help boost your milk supply, and some people say that can help you make more milk. Examples include oatmeal, fenugreek, and brewer’s yeast. Always consult your healthcare provider before using supplements.
7. Stay positive and supportive: Surround yourself with supportive people and stay positive. Sometimes, a positive mindset can help with your overall well-being and milk production.

FAQs about Foods that Decrease Milk Supply

1. Does peppermint decrease the milk supply?

Peppermint can decrease breast milk production when consumed in large amounts. It is known to reduce ‘oversupply’. However, there are no clinical trials to confirm this.

2. Does chocolate decrease the milk supply?

Chocolate does not decrease milk supply, but high intake affects your baby. It contains stimulants similar to caffeine that can affect your baby, like irritability, insomnia, and hyperactivity. You can try eating white chocolate and limit dark chocolates.

3. What foods make babies gassy?

Some of the mothers have noticed that kale, spinach, beans, onions, garlic, peppers or spicy foods can make their baby gassy.

4. What foods cause colic in babies?

Your baby can have colic if you eat these foods like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chocolate, onions, caffeine, and cow’s milk.

5. What foods affect the taste of breast milk?

Certain foods can change the taste of breast milk. A study supports that foods such as alcohol, anise, caraway, carrots, eucalyptus, garlic, and mint can affect its taste.

Conclusion

As a mother, your baby is your first priority. It is normal that you have doubts and are cautious about what you eat every day. Watch out for foods that reduce milk production, and be mindful of all the nutritious foods that can increase your milk supply. Take care of yourself, eat more, exercise moderately, and stay positive.