Can peppermint oil decrease milk supply?

Can Peppermint Oil Decrease Milk Supply?
The evidence on whether peppermint oil can decrease milk supply is mixed, but there are some indications that it may be a concern for some breastfeeding mothers.
Key Findings:
– According to a poll conducted by the Tisserand Institute, 30% of the 166 respondents reported that peppermint oil reduced their milk supply, while 70% said it had no effect.
– Some studies have found that peppermint, as well as other herbs like sage and parsley, are associated with decreased milk supply when consumed in large quantities.
– Peppermint contains menthol and 1,8-cineol, which are excreted into breastmilk and may contribute to reduced milk production.
– However, other sources note that the evidence is not conclusive, and that peppermint may actually improve breastfeeding duration and indirectly boost milk supply through that mechanism.
Recommendations:
– If you are concerned about peppermint affecting your milk supply, it’s best to use it cautiously and monitor your output. Applying peppermint oil topically before bed and using layers of clothing to limit direct skin contact may help.
– Sage tea is also sometimes cited as a potential milk supply reducer, so that is another herb to use with caution.
– Ultimately, every woman’s body reacts differently, so it’s important to pay attention to your own experience and consult with a lactation consultant if you have concerns about your milk supply.

What causes breast milk to suddenly decrease?

Milk production may also decrease if you nurse or pump less often than you did before, get sick, are stressed, or get pregnant again. If low milk production seems to be a problem, but your baby seems to be sucking effectively talk with your healthcare provider or certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).

What essential oils reduce breast milk?

Sage, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, and cabbage leaves can all be incorporated into a pressed oil (cold pressed or hot) to make massage oils for milk suppression. Peppermint essential oil has been used traditionally for decreasing milk supply.

How to tell if breast milk is drying up?

The following are signs your baby isn’t getting enough milk:

1. Poor weight gain. It’s normal for newborns to lose 5% to 7% of their birth weight in the first few days – some lose up to 10%.
2. Insufficient, wet or dirty nappies.
3. Dehydration.

How do you fix a dropped milk supply?

Pumping or expressing milk frequently between nursing sessions, and consistently when you’re away from your baby, can help build your milk supply. Relax and massage. Relax, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your milk to let down.

What decreases milk supply?

Other things that can also lead you to have low milk production include:

• Smoking or drinking.
• Some medicines and herbs.
• Hormonal forms of birth control. This is especially true for birth control that has estrogen.
• Nursing or pumping less often.
• Getting sick.
• Feeling stressed.
• Getting pregnant again.

Does peppermint cause oversupply breastfeeding?

Herbs shown to help decrease milk supply safely, e.g. sage. Foods helpful with reducing milk supply e.g. peppermints or foods high in peppermint oil. Medical approaches, such as over-the-counter products e.g. cold remedies with pseudoephedrine or prescription medications e.g monitored short use of birth control pills.

What does peppermint oil do to nipples?

Several studies have looked into whether peppermint oil or peppermint water can soothe sore or cracked nipples, and the results are exciting: a 2019 study found that peppermint water applied to sore nipples was more effective at healing and reducing pain than breast milk and a breast shell treatment.

Does peppermint oil dry up milk supply?

Even a small amount of peppermint oil will reduce milk supply for some women Among those who reported no effect, some were trying to reduce their supply because they were weaning. However, why peppermint oil affects some and not others is not known, and our poll shed no light on this.

What makes breast milk thinner?

The longer the time between feeds, the more diluted the leftover milk becomes. This ‘watery’ milk has a higher lactose content and less fat than the milk stored in the milk-making cells higher up in your breast. You can’t tell how much fat your baby has received from the length of a feed.

What reduces the flow of breast milk?

Stress is the No. 1 killer of breastmilk supply, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby’s schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.