Solutions for Insufficient Breast Milk After Birth

After birth, the primary source of nutrients for infants is breast milk. Therefore, ensuring adequate breast milk production is crucial, as a decline in milk secretion can affect the feeding of the child. If breast milk is insufficient, several methods can be attempted to improve the situation, particularly through dietary therapy. Let's explore solutions to this issue.

What to Do When Breast Milk is Insufficient After Birth?

Insufficient breast milk postpartum is a common concern among lactating women. It can stem from genetic factors, individual constitution, as well as postpartum qi and blood deficiency, and liver qi stagnation. Two main approaches can be taken to address this:

• Dietary Adjustments: Consume more soup-based meals and nutritious foods such as eggs, fish, and pig's trotters.
• Herbal Therapy: Take traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that promotes lactation and relieves menstrual blockages. Depending on symptoms (e.g., qi and blood deficiency vs. liver qi stagnation), appropriate herbs like those for nourishing qi and blood or soothing the liver can be prescribed.

Recommended Postpartum Dietary Recipes

Red Date, Longan, and Millet Porridge

Ingredients: 100g millet, 100g red dates, 50g longan pulp, 100g brown sugar.

Preparation:

1. Rinse the millet, red dates, and longan pulp.
2. Place a casserole on the stove, add water, bring to a boil, and add the millet. Then add the red dates and longan pulp. Reduce heat after boiling.
3. When the millet is almost tender, add the brown sugar and continue cooking until the porridge thickens.

Benefits: This fragrant and sweet porridge nourishes the spleen and stomach, calms the nerves, and enriches the blood. It is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins B2 and C, calcium, iron, and other nutrients, aiding in the recovery of mothers.

Five-Ingredient Motherwort and Egg Soup

Ingredients: 15g angelica sinensis, 12g ligusticum chuanxiong, 3g processed ginger, 1g pseudo-ginseng powder, 30g motherwort, 2 eggs, cooking wine, salt, and chopped scallions.

Preparation:

1. Wrap the angelica sinensis, ligusticum chuanxiong, processed ginger, motherwort, and pseudo-ginseng powder in a gauze bag and tie it shut.
2. Wash the egg shells and soak them in water for 1 hour.
3. Place the gauze bag in a large casserole, add water, and boil over high heat for 20 minutes.
4. Add the eggs to the boiling water. Once cooked, peel the eggs and return them (with shells) to the pot. Add salt, cooking wine, and scallions, then simmer for another 20 minutes.

Benefits: Consume the soup and eggs daily in 2-3 servings. It promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, and eases pain, suitable for postpartum lochia retention caused by internal blood stasis.

Egg Flower Porridge

Ingredients: 1 egg, 100g glutinous rice.

Preparation: Cook the rice as usual, and when the porridge is nearly done, beat the egg and stir it into the porridge. Cook for a few more minutes, then add a pinch of salt.

Benefits: This porridge nourishes the five internal organs, moistens the yin, nourishes the blood, calms the fetus, and enriches the essence and blood. Enjoy it hot in the morning and evening, suitable for postpartum weakness and other conditions.