Herbal combo to enhance breast milk
FOR the first six months, The National Breastfeeding Policy recommends exclusively breastfeeding your newborns as it is the best source of nutrition.
Breastfeeding should then be continued for up to two years for optimum growth.
However, poor breast milk production is a common problem, especially among new mothers, and has been reported as the main reason for early cessation of breastfeeding.
According to the 2006 National Health and Morbidity Survey, the prevalence of breastfeeding up to two years among Malaysian women reached only about 37.4%.
To overcome the problem of insufficient breast milk, galactogogues are often used in the initiation and continuation of milk production.
Fenugreek is a common herbal galactogogue widely used as a supplement or in the form of tea bags to encourage milk production.
The seed extract contains active compounds called sapogenins with oestrogenic properties that possibly enhances milk flow and production. However, common fenugreek has a unique bitter taste that most mothers are concerned with.
Libifem fenugreek seed extract is a branded fenugreek extract from Gencor Pacific, the US, perfected without a lingering bitter taste. It is also standardised to contain less than 50% sapogenins compared to normal fenugreek, which ranges around 0.6% to 1.7% sapogenins.
Clinical studies found fenugreek extract safe for consumption without affecting the hormones or the length or characteristic of menstrual cycles. The Food and Drug Administration lists fenugreek as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) but should be avoided by pregnant women.
Besides low milk production, loose and saggy abdominal muscles caused by hormonal changes and accumulation of pregnancy fat remain a concern for many women after delivery.
This leads to a drop in self-esteem and life satisfaction for new mothers.
In Malay communities, kacip fatimah is commonly used for post-natal recovery and care to help alleviate fatigue and firm up abdominal muscles.
It contains mild phytoestrogenic effects that can help in balancing a woman’s appetite.
Thus, fenugreek seed extract and kacip fatimah leaf extract makes an outstanding combination in postnatal care, empowering mothers with self-confidence and control.
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