I don’t know who needs to hear this, but...

***ETA I got this from a LC on FB so telling me *I’m* wrong is wrong lol***

OATMEAL

BODY ARMOR DRINKS

BLUE GATORADE

CUTE LITTLE MILKY BITES FROM SOME RANDO ONLINE

NONE OF THESE TELL A HUMAN BODY TO PRODUCE MORE breastmilk. NONE.

Which hormone exactly is present in these items that you think is going to help?

What’s that now? These food items are hormone free? WOW YOU DONT SAY!

You can drown yourself in sports drinks, gorge on oatmeal, drink water until your heart is content and guess what? None of these things will increase your supply. Your baby isn’t struggling to gain weight due to a steel cut oat deficiency.

The ONLY way to alter supply is by utilizing supply and demand and hormones. Your blue Gatorade isn’t going to increase your prolactin.

STOP distracting and stressing women out over oats and drinks and shit. Tell your friends to snuggle their babies, keep stress as low as possible, AND HAVE YOUR BABY EVALUATED BY A PREFERRED PROVIDER FOR LIP AND TONGUE TIES for crying out loud!! 75% of moms I see in groups stressing about supply are drowning in coconut water and have never had their baby’s mouth evaluated.

1. Skin to skin

2. Nipple stimulation and milk removal (supply and demand)

3. Lower stress (cover milk bottle with socks to lower stress about output during pump sessions)

4. Stay APPROPRIATELY nourished and hydrated because you need your energy. Not because it affects supply.

5. Have your baby evaluated BY A PREFERRED PROVIDER for tongue and lip restrictions (your local ENT likely doesn’t have the education necessary. Your pediatrician sure as shit doesn’t).

6. Get body work for your baby by a chiropractor who is ICPA certified

7. Work with a qualified lactation professional who can help you knock all of these things out and determine whether or not you need additional hormonal help.

Das it. You can spend $30 on drinks and oats and bites and bars, or you can spend $30 on body work for your baby that will directly improve their latch.

When you suggest these galactagogues to women, you are wasting their money and making them chase their tail. YOU are doing that to women when you tell them these things. Stop it. Stop spreading lies that only stress people out when you have no education on the subject.

Sigh. Happy Monday.

Keep boobin’ ladies. Your body isn’t a lemon. You aren’t failing. The amount of misinformation in our society is what is failing us. Period.

*I’m deleting every “but ‘xyz’ works!” And “believe what you want, but ‘blah blah’ worked for me” comments because... Monday. And I’m tired. 😂

ETA: informed resources for this info:

Heart + Bloom Birth And Wellness Services PM for lactation help (remote options available)

Heart + Bloom breastfeeding And Birth Support for EVIDENCE BASED lactation info

It Takes a Village-Evidence Based Mamas for evidence based mom support

Tongue Tie Babies Support Group for a list of approved providers who can diagnose oral restrictions