MORINGA AND BREASTFEEDING
The benefits of breastfeeding are widely studied and well-known. Babies who are exclusively breastfed have lower rates of respiratory infections, asthma, eczema, diarrhea, ear infections, and obesity, just to name a few. However, many mothers do not exclusively breastfeed for six months. Why is that?
One of the top 3 reasons that moms discontinue breastfeeding is because of perceived, or actual, low milk supply. Motherlove makes unique breastfeeding supplements to support lactation, one of which, moringa, is scientifically proven to support lactation and is gaining in popularity amongst breastfeeding moms and IBCLCs.
You may recognize the name moringa as it is often found in powdered form and is touted as a superfood. Moringa is a nutrient-dense tree that is native to India and the Philippines.
Gram for gram, moringa leaves contain:
- 25x the iron found in spinach
- 15x the potassium of bananas
- 17x the calcium of milk
- 10x the vitamin C of carrots
- 9x the protein of yogurt
- 7x the vitamin C of oranges
Its bright green leaves traditionally have been harvested and prepared in a soup for Filipino nursing mothers to enhance their milk production. Studies have shown that moringa can act as a galactagogue, a natural substance to support lactation, for postpartum mothers, and even mothers of preterm babies. Another study conducted in the Philippines found that breastfeeding mothers who consumed moringa daily saw significant increases in both their breast milk volume and infant weight gain. Motherlove is helping to bring these same benefits to breastfeeding moms around the world thanks to our vegan liquid capsules.
With moringa’s proven effectiveness in supporting lactation, and its added nutritional benefits, how do you know if it is right for you? As it turns out, moringa is a great choice for many-- such as moms who are returning to work and are worried about their supply, moms who have noticed a recent dip in their supply, or moms just looking for lactation support. It has no known side effects or contraindications and we at Motherlove have heard countless success stories from moms who have tried it and found it successful.
You can find moringa as a single-herb supplement or as the primary herb in our More Milk Moringa blend.
As always, Motherlove recommends working with an IBCLC if you have any breastfeeding challenges. If you have any questions about Motherlove’s breastfeeding supplements, including moringa, feel free to contact us.
