How I Kept My Breast Milk Supply Alive While Only Pumping

Here’s what helped me keep my breast milk supply while only pumping for my youngest babe who couldn’t nurse (based on Ayurvedic wisdom) ❥

1. I got as much skin-to-skin contact with my baby as possible. Had him safely nap with head on my breast & nipple in or near his mouth.

2. Eating warm, soupy foods with a spoonful or 2 of ghee in it. Especially long-cooked yellow mung dal soup with 1-2 spoonfuls of ghee stirred in. You can get dal + ghee from Banyan Botanicals (Code ROSEWATER15 gets you 15% off, and yes I get a commission as well.) And let me know if you want a simple dal soup recipe, I’ll make another post for it ♥️

3. Staying well hydrated with warm water. Webmd recommends nursing mothers drink 16 cups of water daily. There is also a mild fennel + fenugreek tea I make that helped me tons. (No, I’m not worried about fenugreek in this recipe as it is very mild, spic- level only and I’ve only had beautiful support from it.) Let me know if you want the recipe ✨

4. Shatavari herbal powder or tablets. Banyan Botanicals has nice options and is where I get mine (again, use code ROSEWATER15 to get 15% off your order)

5. Producing oxytocin — laughing, loving, kissing, cuddling, being relaxed, looking into baby’s eyes, watching funny movies, NOT stressing about how much milk you’re producing.. stressing about it never helps

6. Making sure I had no nutritional deficiencies, taking prenatal vitamins, eating ample good fats & proteins (reminder: you want your food to be warm & soupy, your drinks warm)

7. Pumping on a schedule — I did 20 min on each breast every 3 hrs around the clock until milk was ample — & pumping with baby skin to skin on my tummy or chest

8. Daily abhyanga (Ayurvedic warm oil massage) — I use Banyan Botanical’s Daily Massage Oil, Ashwagandha Bala sesame oil, OR plain refined sesame oil. I warm it by setting the bottle in a sink full of hot water for a few minutes, then I massage into my body gently from head to toe giving extra attention to my scalp, breasts, belly, & feet.

Don’t implement anything here without first consulting your primary care physician.

Sarva