Lactation is such a blessing. A wonderful part of motherhood, indeed.
While visiting Alex and Lauren in Macon this weekend, we had to just chuckle at the amount of breastfeeding that was involved. They have a son barely three months younger than Owen and with both of us exclusively breastfeeding, it seemed there was one of us constantly rocking in the chair, nursing, cuddling the babes.
There was milk. There was burping. There was a spit up. There was those sweet moments of little baby feet sticking out from under the blanket.
It was awesome.
I was so thankful, especially since I am nursing, that Alex and Lauren took extra effort to cook and prepare us delicious, nutrient-dense food. We feasted on pastured eggs and meats, raw milk, freshly caught bass, delicious rice, sprouted bread, and freshly baked cookies. As a breastfeeding mother I eat often, and a lot, and take extra care to make sure that good stuff is going in so that good stuff can be coming out in my milk.
I remember my Aunt telling me when Georgia was nursing to always throw extra peanut butter on my toast and dish up an extra scoop of homemade ice cream because it's the period of my life where that is needed. And she was totally right. When I fail to eat enough or the right things, my milk suffers for it. So I am always careful to scoop up a little extra. Ya know. For Owen's sake and all.
Ahem.
Ya. That's right. I drink the extra cup of hot chocolate for the baby.
That being said, the one thing I totally bombed on this weekend was drinking enough water (hello – super important, Shaye!). The last night we were there, Lauren brewed me a delicious cup of Mother's Milk tea to help. I woke up to… how can I say this tactfully… a lot of milk.
Which reminded me of just how awesome this tea is.
Breastfeeding, no doubt, pulls all sorts of nutrients and minerals from our bodies. This tea helps to supplement that and refill the reserves in our bodies. Not only that, but it's also soothing and helps to hydrate. Win. Win. Win.
Win. Win. Win. Win. Win.
I've posted this recipe before, but it was a long time ago, the photos are horrific, and it's lost in the endless, dark pit of the archives. It deserves better. So I'm reviving it.
Making this tea at home is a much more cost effective option to the boxed Mother's Milk tea. Another win.
Homemade Mother's Milk Tea
You will need:
– 1/2 cup fennel seeds. An aromatic spice that helps to stimulate milk production and also stimulates a sluggish digestion.
– 1/2 cup raspberry leaves: A soothing leaf beneficial for the female reproductive system.
– 1/4 cup nettle: A leaf rich in iron and Vitamin C. Has a cleansing action on the body and aids in kidney function and circulation. Helps to promote milk flow. Also beneficial for skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis.
– 1/4 cup alfalfa: Helps alleviate fluid retention and swelling, promotes a healthy urinary and digestive tract, cleans the blood, lowers cholesterol, and is rich in vitamins and minerals.
– 1/4 cup dandelion leaves: A leaf that acts as a diuretic, aids in alleviating fluid retention, and is rich in potassium.
– 1/4 cup thistle: An all around good detox herb (especially for the liver!). Also an anti-inflammatory.
– Wee bit of cinnamon, to taste
– A few cloves, to taste
Simply combine the herbs together in a Mason Jar and shake to incorporate them together. I use 2 tablespoons of the herb mixture per three cups of boiling water. It's also delicious sweetened with a teeny bit of cream and raw honey.
I love a pot of this tea at night. It's a wonderful way to wind down, hydrate, and prepare my body for tomorrow's milk production.
Okay. The kind of makes me sound like a cow.
Though, let's face it, myself and a dairy cow sort of have a lot in common. Both of us lactate. Both of us have cute babies. Both of us know the pain of engorgement. And both of us will sacrifice the wellness of our own bodies to produce and help our babies to grow.
Which is all the more reason we need to replenish our dear bodies with wonderful minerals.
Thank you, dear body, for this wonderful service you provide for my child.
I am grateful.
Love this & passing it on to my breast feeding daughter. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Can’t wait to make this!
I think this is the tea my midwife made and called it “pregnancy tea” for me to drink while I was pregnant. I think I still hae some, so I’ll have to go see. I consistently worry about milk production since I have to pump at work, so if drinking a cup of this will help that much, I’m all there. The store-bought stuff works pretty well too, if you’re in a pinch. 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I will have to try this tea! And thanks for the reminder about hydration. My husband and I are in the middle of moving and it’s easy to forget to drink water and eat healthy. My baby needs me to stay hydrated and healthy just as much or more for his sake than for my own.
Thanks for the tea recipe! I just bought all the herbs at our local co-op for less than $3!
Thanks for this beautiful post! As busy mamas, sometimes it’s tough to make time to take care of ourselves. I’ve been breastfeeding my baby for 10 months now and have had a few dips in my milk supply. I drink Earth Mama tea, but would love to make my own. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
What a wonderful post and recipe! Just bought all the herbs and mixed it today – it is delicious, mild, and smooth! Loved it so much I mixed up a double batch to keep in the kitchen 🙂 Thank you!
Lovely recipe! One question: do you recommend using blessed thistle or milk thistle? Or is either one okay?
I’ve always used milk thistle.
do you use the ground or whole version of these ingrdients?
Whole.
Where did you buy all of your herbs from?
Azure Standard or Mountain Rose Herbs are both great places to source bulk herbs!
This recipe sounds wonderful! How much of the tea do you typically drink a day? I’m nursing my first baby (just reached 11 months!) and after oversupply issues in the beginning, I fear my supply is actually starting to dwindle because the amount I pump at work has been decreasing over the last few weeks. Thank you!
A few cups per day really can help!
I just found out I am expecting baby #3. I did not do well with breastfeeding my first 2. Had a very difficult time. I am wondering if I can start drinking this now while pregnant and then continue using it. Sounds great for other things then just milk supply
You bet!
I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with my first. Do you recommend I start drinking this now or wait until closer to my due date??
It’s always good to drink it, no matter what time!
you are so pretty
I read this three days ago. I have been to every grocery store in my city and i cannot find these herbs anywhere. Help???
I want to thank you for this post. I had my first baby girl in May and had an overwhelming milk supply and I definitely took it for granted. When she was 3 months we moved 7 hrs away from family so my husband could go to Vet. Med. School and I became really stressed and unsure if I was being a good mother and if I was doing things “right”. My milk supply dipped. And I was devastated. I’m still struggling with it and plan on using your tea remedy, but what I love most about your post is the love and gratefulness you have for your body that it produces this wonderful milk for you baby. I realized I need to think more that way and realize how miraculous my body is by producing this for my baby girl! So thank you!! 🙂
What are something’s some of the moms put the tea to make it taste a little bit better?
Honey and cream! <3