Lactation (Breast Milk Production)

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    Natalka Roshak, Rachel Hathcock

    Fact-checked

    by:

    James Gaylor, Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: November 30, 2023

    Lactation is the process of milk production and secretion from the mammary glands. To learn about breastfeeding as an intervention (e.g., in comparison to using infant formula), see our breastfeeding page.

    59 references on this page
    6,454 participants in 17 trials and 3 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Lactation (Breast Milk Production)

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    Frequently asked questions

    Update History

    Cross-link to breastfeeding added

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    Nick Milazzo

    Examine Database References

    1. Milk Production - Atena Mohammadpour, Mahboubeh Valiani, Alireza Sadeghnia, Sedigheh TalakoubInvestigating the Effect of Reflexology on the Breast Milk Volume of Preterm Infants' MothersIran J Nurs Midwifery Res.(Sep-Oct 2018)
    2. Milk Production - Seyhan Çankaya, Gülay RatwischThe Effect of Reflexology on Lactation and Postpartum Comfort in Caesarean-Delivery Primiparous Mothers: A Randomized Controlled StudyInt J Nurs Pract.(2020 Jun)
    3. Milk Production - Ping Lu, Zhi-Qi Ye, Jin Qiu, Xiao-Yu Wang, Juan-Juan ZhengAcupoint-tuina therapy promotes lactation in postpartum women with insufficient milk production who underwent caesarean sectionsMedicine (Baltimore).(2019 Aug)
    4. Milk Production - Mitra Savabi Esfahani, Shohreh Berenji-Sooghe, Mahboubeh Valiani, Soheila EhsanpourEffect of acupressure on milk volume of breastfeeding mothers referring to selected health care centers in TehranIran J Nurs Midwifery Res.(Jan-Feb 2015)
    5. Milk Production - Vida Ghasemi, Masoomeh Kheirkhah, Mohsen VahediThe Effect of Herbal Tea Containing Fenugreek Seed on the Signs of Breast Milk Sufficiency in Iranian Girl InfantsIran Red Crescent Med J.(2015 Aug 15)
    6. Milk Production - Siew Cheng Foong, May Loong Tan, Wai Cheng Foong, Lisa A Marasco, Jacqueline J Ho, Joo Howe OngOral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infantsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020 May 18)
    7. Milk Production - Reena Ravi, Jasmine JosephEffect of fenugreek on breast milk production and weight gain among Infants in the first week of lifeClinical Epidemiology and Global Health.()
    8. Milk Production - Reeder, C et alThe effect of fenugreek on milk production and prolactin levels in mothers of preterm infantsClin Lact.(2013-11-01)
    9. Milk Production - Francesco Di Pierro, Alberto Callegari, Domenico Carotenuto, Marco Mollo TapiaClinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogueActa Biomed.(2008 Dec)
    10. Milk Production - Peila C, Coscia A, Tonetto P, Spada E, Milani S, Moro G, Fontana C, Vagliano L, Tortone C, Di Bella E, Bertino EEvaluation of the galactogogue effect of silymarin on mothers of preterm newborns (<32 weeks).Pediatr Med Chir.(2015-Dec-29)
    11. Milk Production - Mustafa Volkan Düzgün, Zeynep ÖzerThe effects of music ıntervention on breast milk production in breastfeeding mothers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsJ Adv Nurs.(2020 Oct 10)
    12. Milk Production - Mradu Gupta, Badri ShawA Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Galactogogue Activity of Asparagus racemosus WilldIran J Pharm Res.(Winter 2011)
    13. Milk Production - S Sharma, S Ramji, S Kumari, J S BapnaRandomized controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a lactogogue in lactational inadequacyIndian Pediatr.(1996 Aug)
    14. Milk Production - Rizal Damanik, Mark L Wahlqvist, N WattanapenpaiboonLactagogue effects of Torbangun, a Bataknese traditional cuisineAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2006)
    15. Milk Production - S. Manjula, Arshiya Sultana, Khaleequr RahmanClinical efficacy of Gossypium herbaceum L. seeds in perceived insufficient milk (PIM) supply: A randomized single-blind placebo-controlled studyOriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine.()
    16. Milk Production - Corazon P. Estrella, Jacinto Bias. Man taring, Grace Z. David, Michelle A. TaupA double blind randomised controlled trial on the use of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) for augmentation of the volume of breastmilk among non-nursing mothers of preterm infantsThe Phillipine Journal of Pediatrics.()
    17. Pain - Kee WH, Tan SL, Lee V, Salmon YMThe treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J.(1989 Feb)
    18. Nipple Cracks - Manizheh Sayyah Melli, Mohammad Reza Rashidi, Abbas Delazar, Elaheh Madarek, Mohammad Hassan Kargar Maher, Alieh Ghasemzadeh, Kamran Sadaghat, Zohreh TahmasebiEffect of peppermint water on prevention of nipple cracks in lactating primiparous women: a randomized controlled trialInt Breastfeed J.(2007 Apr 19)
    19. Nipple Cracks - Maleki A, Youseflu SThe Effectiveness of Aloe Vera on Relief of Irritation and Nipple Pain in Lactating Women: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Obstet Gynecol Int.(2022)
    20. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone - Mulrine HM, Skeaff SA, Ferguson EL, Gray AR, Valeix PBreast-milk iodine concentration declines over the first 6 mo postpartum in iodine-deficient womenAm J Clin Nutr.(2010 Oct)