I had a slight panic moment the other day when I realized (while drinking my pregnancy tea) that I will have a newborn in a month or so (nesting is now in hyperdrive).
With a precious new little one comes baby coos and tiny clothes and… breastfeeding! I love the newborn phase but the early days of nursing are always a little tough for me and I feel that it is harder to get enough calories and nutrients when I’m nursing a baby.
This time, I’ve prepared ahead of time as I’ve mixed up a batch of nursing mom tea to have on hand when this little one makes an entrance. I’ve also been busy getting my birth kit in order, eating dates (I’ll keep you posted on that one!), obsessively cleaning (nesting for the win!), and optimizing all of these factors to help make labor easier!
Nursing Mom Tea
Having a baby is a couple years of wonderful exhaustion, and while it is easy to focus on the beautiful baby, it is also important for us as moms to nourish and support our own bodies during this physically taxing time. To the extent possible, it is important to get enough sleep during pregnancy and breastfeeding, eat a nutrient-dense diet, and nourish the body in other ways. I’ve found that this is often easier said than done, especially when you have other children too, but since breastfeeding is often done sitting down it is a great time to hydrate and replenish.
Enter… nursing tea!
Tea contains actual vitamins and minerals (really!) and a nursing tea blend also has herbs that may boost and protect milk supply. (More on that below.)
Pair with one of these lactation cookies (or a few… nursing hunger is real!) for a satisfying and nourishing treat.
The Nourishing Ingredients…
This tea has a combination of beneficial ingredients to help nourish the body and support adequate milk supply:
- Red raspberry leaf– High in vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. Raspberry leaf is also recommended to support hormone health.
- Nettle leaf– High in chlorophyll and trace minerals, it is said to support urinary health.
- Fenugreek– Used as a spice in many parts of the world and often added to curries. Contains potassium, vitamin C, and diosgenin which is the compound that is said to help breastfeeding and milk supply.
- Fennel– Source of iron, folate, and vitamin C and also helps improve digestion. Some midwives claim that adding fennel to a nursing tea can also help alleviate digestive struggles or colic in the baby as the benefits can pass through the milk.
- Alfalfa– Known as the “father of all foods” alfalfa is a nutrient dense plant high in vitamin K, vitamin C, and chlorophyll. It is often used in multivitamin blends.
- Chamomile– One of my favorite herbs and one I use often for children. It is a calming and relaxing herb and can support restful sleep for mom and baby.
- Dandelion– Good source of vitamins A, C, D, and B, as well as minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon.
I order all the herbs in bulk (click links above to see the ones I use) so I can make big batches of these and other herbal teas very inexpensively. If you aren’t a DIYer and don’t want the initial expense of purchasing herbs in bulk, you can also find this tea pre-made in tea bags.
Some of these herbs are not recommended during pregnancy, so I only drink this tea after the baby is born. It is also important to check with your doctor or midwife before consuming any herb while breastfeeding.
Herbal Nursing Mom Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup red raspberry leaf
- ¼ cup alfalfa leaf
- ½ cup nettle leaf
- ¼ cup fenugreek seeds
- ¼ cup fennel seeds
- ¼ cup chamomile flowers
- ¼ cup dandelion leaf
Instructions
- Mix herbs and store in a glass jar. To brew, add 1 Tablespoon herb mix to 2 cups of boiling water and simmer on stove for 10-15 minutes.
- Strain and serve.
- Can also make by the gallon using ½ cup dried herb mix and store in refrigerator after straining.
Notes
Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!
I’m grateful to have been able to nurse my babies, but realize that there are many cases where breastfeeding is not possible. Though I have not personally tried it, I have many friends who used this homemade organic formula option with great results.
What helps you stay nourished during breastfeeding? Ever tried a nursing mom tea?
I drank red raspberry leaf and nettle tea while I was pregnant. Now I am 4 months postpartum and am loving a tea called Dandy blend made with dandelion. I really notice the energy boost too! Thanks for the tip
Dandy Blend is delicious, I order it in bulk! 🙂 https://www.amazon.com/Dandy-Blend-Instant-Beverage-Dandelion/dp/B000SMN0DO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=7b3d45545807b961aafe63ec84db4b6e&language=en_US
Is Dandy Blend gluten free? I noticed it contains extracts of barley.
I tried the dates! My labor was one hour and forty minutes, and three weeks early.
Hi Katie! Wondering since this is kind of about pregnancy and what not.. And by sure where to ask this, but so you do placenta incapaculation or what you think of it? Also can you put these in a French press or tea kettle?
I need to write about it, but I did encapsulate my placenta last time and it seemed to help me recover quickly as it was one of my easiest recoveries (but also one of my easiest births). You can put these in a french press or kettle 🙂
I’ve read it’s not safe to drink licorice root tea while breastfeeding, do you think that’s true? Thanks! ??
It is one of the herbs that I am cautious of while breastfeeding so I typically just avoid it…
My due date is 4 days away!! I’m doing placenta encapsulation this time around, but think I’ll make this tea as well. Thanks for the recipe and best of luck with your new little one!!I
Hi! Have you tried the one in the bags? I know everything DIY is better but I’m thinking of putting the bags on my registry to try.
Yep… those are the bags I used after my third was born. He was born over a month early due to placenta previa and spent time in the NICU. I was trying to pump enough to keep him from ever getting formula and was able to with this tea, even though he couldn’t nurse for a couple weeks. I brewed it in the hospital even. It tastes great.
your third? how many kids do you have? hope your pregnancy is going well!
Number 6 is on the way 🙂
Thankyou, you are doing great job, can you suggest me ladies doctor gaonacologist.
Did any of your kids get acid reflux when they were babies? If so how did you treat them?
We had one that did. I tried an elimination diet and eventually found that dairy and eggs seemed to be the triggers. After removing those from my diet the baby’s reflux stopped but it can be different for each mom and baby.
Please know that fenugreek has many contraindications. It should not be used by individuals with asthma, diabetes, or a family history of peanut or soy allergy. It also should not be used by individuals taking blood thinners and is contraindicated with many other prescription medications.
Can’t wait to try this! Katie, you and I are due around the same time! I’ve been loving all the posts.