Mother's Milk Tea Side Effects

Mothers Milk tea is an herbal blend that is meant to stimulate breast-milk production. Herbs can mimic female hormones because they contain phyoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens that act much like human estrogen. This breast-milk-boosting tea is loaded with generous amounts of herbs such as fennel, fenugreek and blessed thistle. Mother's Milk tea also contains fruit extracts such as organic aniseed fruit and organic coriander fruit. Herbal teas have been used for thousands of years to help breastfeeding mothers and treat other ailments.

Benefits

One of the most beneficial side effects of Mother's Milk tea is an increase in the amount of breast milk a woman is able to produce. The herbs found in the tea are called galactagogues. The combination of herbs has a powerful effect on a woman's body. Mother's Milk tea is also sweet. Fenugreek tastes similar to maple syrup. Some moms have also reported that their infants have less colic and gas when the mothers consistently drink this tea.

Time Frame

Most women report a difference in breast-milk quality and production within the first few days after drinking the tea. The results are not instant because it takes the body time to absorb the herbs. Many moms are pleased to continue drinking the tea for several months or even a year or longer while they nurse their babies.

Changes in Blood Sugar

Some women who drink Mother's Milk tea have also reported another side effect--changes in blood sugar levels. Fenugreek can reduce blood glucose levels when taken in excess. This can cause some women to develop hypoglycemia. Mothers who are diabetic or already have hypoglycemia should be careful when using fenugreek. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Upset Stomach and Diarrhea

Some of the herbs in Mother's Milk tea have also been shown to cause stomach upset and diarrhea in some women. If this happens to you, decrease the dosage or talk to your doctor. This is more commonly seen in women who have a history of gastrointestinal problems. Also keep in mind that dosage may need to be reduced if a you start to produce too much milk. Too much breast milk can cause a baby to be fussy from overeating. Many moms take the tea to give their body a boost and then discontinue use after they have achieved their desired results. Once their milk supply has been stimulated, they still continue to produce milk even without the tea.

Warning

Talk to your doctor before drinking herbal tea. Herbs are powerful medicines and should be treated as such. Some herbs may interact with medications or other herbs. Some women may also be sensitive to herbs such as fenugreek. If you have any type of allergies to grass or weeds, this tea may not be for you. Inhaling fenugreek produces an allergic response similar to other allergies for some people.