Which Foods Might Decrease Your Breast Milk Supply?

If you're breastfeeding, you can increase your supply by eating milk-producing foods called galactagogues. It's important to know, however, that the opposite is also true, and certain items might decrease your breast milk supply.

Some things, like alcohol, can slowly lower milk supply over time. Others, like pseudoephedrine (a common ingredient in cold and allergy medications), can decrease milk production as soon as 24 hours after the first dose.

If you have any concerns about your breast milk supply, consult with a doctor or certified lactation consultant. In the meantime, avoiding and limiting items known to negatively affect breast milk production is a smart idea. Keep reading to all about the herbs, medications, and foods that can decrease your breast milk supply.

Alcohol

While the occasional alcoholic beverage, whether it's a glass of wine, pint of beer, or a shot of liquor, is unlikely to reduce your milk supply, chronic alcohol consumption can. This might lead to a shortened breastfeeding duration, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You may also notice that your milk supply rapidly declines after heavy drinking (five or more drinks at one time). Alcohol acts as a depressant to the central nervous system and temporarily blocks the release of oxytocin, leading to a de­crease of circulating oxytocin in the body. This can temporarily disrupt the letdown reflex, which is crucial to the flow of breast milk during feedings and pumping sessions.

Most lactating people recover quickly after binge drinking, usually within 24 to 48 hours, but if alcohol consumption is high and frequent, the body may not have time to return to baseline

The safest route is to abstain from alcohol while breastfeeding, but moderate alcohol consumption (up to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor) is unlikely to have any negative impact on your infant or your milk supply. Any amounts beyond this should be avoided.

It's also recommended to wait at least two hours after drinking before nursing or pumping and feeding, which could mitigate some of the effects. According to the National Institutes of Health, breastfeeding soon after consuming one or two drinks can decrease milk intake by 20 to 23%, and it's also associated with irritation and poor sleep in babies.

Sage, Parsley, and Peppermint

Some herbs are naturally lactogen­ic foods that may provide you with a boost in breast milk production. Others such as sage, pars­ley, peppermint (which contains menthol), and menthol are often associated with decreased milk supply in lactating people who consume them in large quantities. For this reason, these herbs are often used to aid weaning.

Scientific research and anecdotal evidence are inconclusive about just how much these herbs affect breast milk supply, and no formal studies have proven anything. In fact, some research even seems to show the opposite effect. Either way, you'd likely need to ingest a large quantity of the herb for any noticeable difference in milk supply.

You don't need to avoid each of these herbs altogether, but be mindful of dishes that contain large amounts. For instance, sage is a popular herb used around Thanksgiving, lots of parsley is found in dish­es like tabbouleh, and peppermint is often found in teas, gums, and candies.

Chasteberry

Chasteberry, the dried fruit of the chaste tree, is native to the Mediterranean and has traditionally been used as alternative or complementary medicine to treat things like menstrual cycle irregularities and cyclical breast pain.

Chasteberry has been shown to act directly on the pituitary gland, inhibiting the secretion of prolactin. When prolactin levels are reduced in a lactating person, milk supply typically reduces with it. As a result, breastfeeding parents may want to avoid chasteberry supplements.

If you're looking for an alternative herb to help ease the inflammation associated with en­gorgement, turmeric is a well-studied option that doesn't hurt milk supply. In fact, in some traditions, turmeric is used to boost breast milk supply.

Pseudoephedrine, Methylergonovine, and Bromocriptine

Some medications adversely affect breast milk supply, so it's important to ensure any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you take while breastfeeding won't suppress lactation. Three medications known to affect breast milk supply are:

• Pseudoephedrine: Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in decongestants like Sudafed and is added to many cold and allergy medications for relief from nasal congestion.
• Methylergonovine: Methylergonovine is available under the brand name Methergine and is often used to treat postpartum hemorrhage (severe uterine bleeding after child­birth).
• Bromocriptine: Bromocriptine is sold under the brand names Parlodel and Cycloset and is used for a variety of health issues from diabetes to hyperprolactinemia (too much prolactin).

If your milk supply has dropped, and you've taken one of the above medications, ask your doctor if you can switch to an alternative treatment.

Your doctor may also be able to recommend some ways to increase your breast milk supply if needed. Strategies might include more frequent breast­feeding or pumping, and supplementation with lactogenic medications, herbs, or foods.