The effect of galactagogue herbal tea on breast milk production and short-term catch-up of birth weight in the first week of life.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether consumption of maternal herbal tea containing fenugreek had any effects on breast milk production and infants' weight gain pattern in the early postnatal period.


METHODS
Sixty-six (66) mother-infant pairs were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 22) consisted of mothers who were receiving herbal tea containing fenugreek every day. Group 2 (n = 22) and group 3 (n = 22) were assigned as placebo and controls, respectively.


METHODS
Birth weight, loss of birth weight, time of regain of birth weight, amount of breast milk assessed on the third day after delivery were determined.


RESULTS
Maximum weight loss was significantly lower in infants in group 1 compared to both the placebo and control groups (p < 0.05). Infants in group 1 regained their birth weight earlier than those in control and placebo groups (p < 0.05). The mean measured breast milk volume of the mothers who received galactagogue tea was significantly higher than the placebo and control groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal galactagogue herbal tea supplementation seems to be useful for enhancing breast milk production and facilitating infant birth weight regain in early postnatal days.
Department of Neonatology, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. drcananturkyilmaz@gmail.com
Canan
C
Turkyılmaz
Esra
E
Onal
Ibrahim Murat
IM
Hirfanoglu
Ozden
O
Turan
Esin
E
Koç
Ebru
E
Ergenekon
Yıldız
Y
Atalay
D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D056669:Galactogogues / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012639:Seeds; D029910:Trigonella; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D056669:Galactogogues; D010936:Plant Extracts